I saw that Phd-certified looney on TV the other day and wonder how many kids she's dealt with. As a long-time little league coach I can assure you there's a HUGE difference between kids who get disciplined and those who get a "time out". I would never on my worst day beat my son, however he has gotten an open handed swat to the butt regularly in the past. He's nearly 10 now and hasn't needed a swat in years. Why? Because he's spent enough time around some real brats to know why I kept him on the straight and narrow. He doesn't lie, steal or talk back. He is a true joy to be around 24/7. Teachers and other adults regularly compliment him and us on his exemplary behavior and manners. He's not some geeky kid afraid of his own shadow or the next beating, nor does he hit other kids. He's more mature and better behaved than most any kid I have ever been around. He won't need a therapist to deal with the nighmares of his horrible parents and won't be on the Dr Phil show when he's an adult to blame his parents for his life being a wreck because of the occasional "attention-getter". Despite having been on the recieving end of a few swats, he has yet to go to bet without saying "I love You" to both his mother and I. I'm not the perfect parent by a long shot, but I think my son's personality speaks for itself. By contrast my wife works at a school and some of the stories she tells me of hwo some kids behave is shocking. Such shockingly bad behavior is often the result of today's "no-spanking" parenting philosiphy.

 

I tried to rep you for this great post but was turned away. I wish more people felt this way!