Did your parents spank you?

[WI_DEM]

Poll question: Did your parents spank you?

Just curious. Spankings used to be more acceptable years ago. Luckily, this attitude is changing.

[hippiechick]

1. I was too chicken to do anything wrong.

My mother put some serious fear and loathing toward our dad into us as kids - turns out he was entirely unaware of that. :(

[notadmblnd]

2. Line up! Who did it?

my step father would then grab us by the hand so we couldn't get away and would proceed to hit us with the belt as we took our turns dancing around in circles until someone fessed up.

[Career Prole]

3. Yup...but only when I got way out of line.

Did I carry on the tradition with my children?
Nope. My kids are more reasonable than I was. :eyes:

[chicagojoe]

4. Two times, and it wasn't brutal, and I DID have it coming.

[bearfan454]

5. Yes we got spanked when we were kids.

And there was no doubt about it either. We knew if we fucked up we were going to get it. No questions asked.

[DireStrike]

6. A few times

when I did something that I knew was wrong, or something that was dangerous.

[ultraist]

7. Yes, but it was infrequent

I don't use any type of physical violence against my children. There are more civilized ways to teach a child.

[HEyHEY]

8. You know it!

ouch ouch ouch!

[yvr girl]

9. Yes, but not often

I received one spanking from my dad, which I remember clearly to this day, including what it was for.

"Smack, smack, smack ONE; smack, smack, smack TWO; smack, smack smack THREE - next time you'll get ten."

I received maybe 3 or 4 from my mom, they didn't leave the same impression. I do however, remember getting my mouth washed out with soap when I was four, which was decidedly unpleasant.

[RubyDuby in GA]

20. Glad to see I'm not the only one who experienced the joy of soap

Pink lifeboy soap with a green washcloth. Apparently I liked the word "shit" a little too much when I was 6ish...

I like to think it was my brother's fault, after all he did have a shitty diaper and I was just trying to let her know. :shrug:

[yvr girl]

23. I don't remember what I said - I was 4

It was liquid dish detergent - that I remember.

[lapislzi]

25. it was...soap poisoning!

one of many fave scenes from A Christmas Story.

[Walt Starr]

10. Hand, belt, hairbrush

you name it.

[ChairOne]

17. don't forget the wooden spoon! lol /eom

[Lone_Star_Dem]

43. I remember the spoon!

Not the cheap ones you get at wal-mart either. Ours were carved wooden spoons that would give quite a zinger.

[alfredo]

47. Hell yes. Belt, shoe, hair brush, hand, and the side of a butcher knife.

At school it was the paddles, rods, straps, and the worst was a rod on the bottom of the feet. Spanking on the back of the thighs was the most painful. It took your legs out from under you.

[UdoKier]

11. Yes, but I can count the times on one hand.

I had to do something REALLY bad to get spanked - like when my brother and I broke all the windows of one of the unused buildings on my Grandma's ranch.

[WarNoMore]

12. Yes! I seemed to be the one that got the brunt of the

spankings--not really very big infractions either. I would be told ahead of time that Dad would give me a spanking, and had to sit through the agony of supper, knowing I would have to tell him what I did. He had huge ham hands and in retrospect it was short of child abuse, I would be terribly black and blue for days.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. Yes, but very rarely...

...I was a good kid. By the time they REALLY wanted to spank me, I was too big and too old.

[CrispyQ]

14. Yes, and it didn't damage me one bit!

One day my cousins & I asked if we could pick the cherries off the cherry tree. We were told yes. OMG! You know what we did? We pulled all the branches off the cherry tree!! WTF were we thinking? My grandfather was livid!! I've never seen him so pissed! We each got a serious swat on the butt with a cherry tree branch.

The only other spanking I got was from my mom when I left my painting stuff in the bathroom & when she opened the door it spilled all over the bathroom carpet. That was another butt swat, but with her hand.

Both were more swats of disappointment in my behavior & neither had a negative effect on me. I didn't pick up that you solve problems with violence. There is a big difference between a butt swat & a beating. Call me a child abuser, but I believe that sometimes a quick swat on the butt gets the attention of a misbehaving child that talking to will never achieve. (PS - I have no children, but if I did, they would probably at sometime deserve a butt swat.)

[lala_rawraw]

15. We were too busy

being spanked by the Soviet gov. so we kind of stuck together and have been really close my whole life. they did yell at me quite a bit though when I started dating and staying out, and they had a shit fest when I got piercings (early 1990's)...but mostly they just talked to me, not at me. i like that approach a lot... i turned out well, no?;) hehehe

[RubyDuby in GA]

16. I got one spanking in my entire life and I more than deserved it!

I was five and my brother was a newborn, maybe four or five months old. It was the summertime and all the kids and their moms were out (my mom stopped working when she had me and didn't go back to work until my brother started school). I also need to point out that I has specifically asked for a sister and was more than a little nonplussed when he showed up. Anyhows, mom asked me to hold him and watch him while she took a very quick shower. I'm holding him and using the logic of a 5 year old wonder how I can get rid of him to get my sister that I asked for. How do you return something you don't want if you're 5? You send it back in the mail. I haul my brother outside and have him above my head and almost to the mailbox when my mom snatches him from me. She gives me that look that makes me think she's obviously related to the devil and tells me not to move one inch while she goes to put him down. Being the stupid ass I am, I don't move. When she gets back, she blistered my ass from the mailbox to my bedroom with the whole neighborhood looking on.

Years later my dad told me that he couldn't even open my door that night to talk to me because he was in trouble too for "chuckling" when she told him about it.

[EFerrari]

54. I got a baby brother too. After waiting nine patient months.

And didn't forgive either Mom or my brother until he became a very fine sax player. The 2 years in between, we don't talk about. lol

[maveric]

18. Belts, coathangers and a piece of electrical cord called "Piggin String"

Which he jokingly threatened us with.
I loved my dad but he had a cruel and abusive side to him that made me hate him at times and move out as soon as I could. After age 18 I was no less than 1000 miles away from him. We became close by telephone only.

[LilBitRad]

33. Yep, me too and a frying pan as well.

But it was my Mom. I hit the door at 17 and didn't go back or call for 5 years....never got over it really, but damn sure never abused my own kids,
Spanked them when they needed it but made sure it was for effect rather than for pain.

It really did hurt me more than it hurt them, though I never did make that particular statement to them. They wouldn't have believed it anyway.

[Ezlivin]

46. Army belts and "switches"

My dad loved to make me go out and cut my own switch. If it were too small, he'd hit me with it until it broke, then send me out for another. If it were too big (my way of making a subtle point), he'd toss it out, grab whatever was handy to hit me with and send me out again.

He was six feet tall. When I got taller than him (eventually hitting 6' 7") he left me alone.

Like you, I moved away and tried to forget all that shit. Eventually he mellowed (somewhat) with age and I've worked very hard to reconcile.

[PurityOfEssence]

19. Yes. I harbor no ill-will, and NEVER hit my kids

My Dad and I have no problems or smoldering resentment, and he understands our take completely. Call it social evolution.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

21. yes, but not much at all.

[Carni]

22. Not often and once my father wiped out trying to catch me lol

And I mean wiped out in a BIG way (like flat on his back lol)

It was so ridiculous looking that my mother burst out laughing
(I immediately sought cover and proceeded to keep a low profile for an hour or two)

I actually preferred a swat on the butt to being grounded and was very unhappy when they got hip to that fact! :(

[Poppyseedman]

24. As a father of six children

I can tell you unequivocally that I disciplined my children without reservation with a wooden paddle.

I know, the horror of it all. Take your hands away from your mouth and reserve your disdain for someone who cares.

I was the head of the house and what I said was the law. I was never overbearing, brutal or inconsistent, but loving and caring father, who let them understand what the rules were and the consequences for breaking them.

I only had to discipline them rarely because they knew, if they screwed up, there were going to be consequences.

It always hurt me more than them because I'm was so disappointed that it had come to this last resort.

We had a very happy home because everybody knew their parameters and my children were trained well enough to know Dad was always open to hear him out on their behavior.

The paddle was the last resort and I think I used it maybe 10 times in a twenty period for six kids.




:spank:

[TyeDye75]

26. I was smacked as a child

but only a handful of times in about 12 years and each time I really did deserve it.

[Goblinmonger]

27. My dad, belt in hand, "Stop crying or I'll give you something to cry about

[DemExpat]

31. God, my Dad learned that script too somewhere....

:nuke:

DemEx

[freebird1]

40. I heard that more than once when I was young.

and so I stopped crying but I moved out of his home the day after I graduated from high school.

[Ready4Change]

28. Only once that I recall.

I don't remember what it was for, either. It was something I and all my siblings did, we knew it was wrong (mischeivious), and did it any way.

Dad found out and the chase was on!

It is one of my families favorite memories. Him chasing us, us scampering around like startled kittens. Pretty soon we were all laughing. I remember my Dad laughing so hard he had tears.

But one by one he got us all, one under each arm, one in each hand (4 kids.) It was a fair cop at that point and, knowing we'd done wrong, we stopped struggling, and each in turn got a couple swats on the bottom.

Do I consider my parents cruel, domineering and abusive for this? NO! I clearly recall that us kids KNEW what we were doing would well deserve "something." We just decided it was worth it. We had it coming.

Holds true to this day. I've never felt wronged at getting a speeding ticket, for example. I knew I was speeding each time I've gotten one, and paid without complaint. I had it coming.

[Greylyn58]

29. Yes, but only when we had been REALLY bad

As my brothers and I got older we were punished by being grounded to the back yard or to our room.

I hated that worse than being hit. Normally because the grounding lasted longer than the spanking.

And the one time my grandfather spanked me it was with a switch that I had to pick out from this bush he had in the front of his house. Always remember that. He didn't hit me hard, but it was the worse spanking I ever had because it came from my Paw Paw. :)

[PowerToThePeople]

30. I don't think spanking is a bad thing

Though when I was spanked, it was by my mom (single parent family). By the time I was about 10, she couldn't actually hurt me any more, so soon after she gave it up.

I think that in extreme bad cases, starting fights and other such thinks, a good spanking is needed. I have dated girls who do not spank at all, and their children seem a little more out of control than children who have a potential spanking waiting for them. Just my opinion though.

[flygal]

32. Wooden Spoon baby!

We FEARED that sucker :scared:

[Bethany Rockafella]

34. No.

I was the perfect child.O8)

[catmandu57]

35. spankings no, beatings hell yes

corporal punishment was the rule of the land in our house, that and mass punishment when nobody would confess everyone got it. We settled the score later amongst ourselfs. My mother was the worst, she would get the bloodlust and a crazy look on her face, it was scary getting a beating from her.
Between her and my stepfather they pretty well fucked up any childhood I had, and I've cut all ties there long ago.

[Padraig18]

36. No, but the brothers at school did. n/t

[funkybutt]

37. The fly swatter was my favorite!

It made a lot of noise but really did no harm. As a child you could whoop it up and act like it was having an impact, then giggle with your siblings about it later.

[donheld]

38. I believe there are still many who spank

I know many who do.

[One_Life_To_Give]

39. Yes but

The mere mention that Dad was going to get the "Belt" A vicious weapon of unimaginable pain. Well we set records for how fast one can become a little angel. We lived in terror of that cruel device.

And while on occasion it was threatened. The only thing it ever did was hold up Dads pants.

[Rush1184]

41. Yes, only like once or twice when I was little...

usually the threat was enough to stop me doing whatever I was doing wrong, but it was rarely even needed as I was an overall good kid and I respected my perents and they respected me.

[sendero]

42. I got spanked..

... a few times by my parents, and a couple times at school (they called them 'licks').

On yet another issue I'm not a good liberal because frankly, I find the idea that this "damaged" me or made me think "violence is an acceptable solution" ludicrous.

But whatever :)

[sierrajim]

44. And I earned every one I got

The thing that killed me was the silent treatment I would have rather taken my whooping.

[NervousRex]

45. Once...

in my best Joe Piscopo from Johnny Dangerously....

[Lindacooks]

48. Hitting someone smaller than you are is disgusting.

There are many more efficient and effective ways of teaching kids right from wrong. And yes, I was hit; sometimes so much I was bruised for days afterward.

[ermoore]

55. Big effin' difference.

BIG difference between spanking and hitting. Totally different. Anything that leaves a mark for more than a day or two afterwards is beyond acceptable.

[Lindacooks]

67. No, I don't agree.

And anything that leaves a mark AT ALL is abuse.

Hitting someone smaller than you are just teaches that person that violence solves problems. Not to mention makes them scared of you.

[DrWeird]

49. Yes.

But my parents were abusive, so fuck 'em. And anybody else who would strike their kid.

[in_cog_ni_to]

50. Yes and it hurt!

We got the hand on a bare butt. Switches from a tree...DAMN that hurt! The belt. Oh yeah. We were all spanked.

[ermoore]

51. They sure did.

When I really screwed up I got the belt. Better man now for it I'd say. Personally, I think the trend against spanking isn't necessarily a good thing. Too many spoiled kids running around that could use it. Oh well, my parents spanked me and my brother and sister, and I'll spank my kids when I have them.

[EFerrari]

52. No, but I was mightily threatened with a nonexistant belt.

And later found out that my mother would rather explode than smash a bug.

[Old and In the Way]

53. There's a line between abuse and getting your attention.

I got a few spankings..."bend over" was a most horrific phrase when I was 4, as I recall. But it was no beating. My kids got spankings on a handful of occaissions...when it was required. Thing is, you need to occassionally apply a spanking for the the threat to have any meaning.

[CatholicEdHead]

56. Yes they did

but only when I had it REALLY coming. Not for petty stuff.

[B Calm]

57. Not only my Dad, but teachers too! It hurt for a while, but I can

honestly say it never helped the situtation. I was just as ornery, but sneakier..

[Straight Shooter]

58. Yes, they did. The belt was the worst.

And I got slapped a lot, too. Even as a kid, I resented being treated that way.

My parents reserve the right, even into their old age, to hit any of their kids who shows "disrespect." Needless to say, this is not an overly affectionate, loving family. :eyes:

[Endangered Specie]

59. Yes, though it was rare...

I'd have to say that I turned out ok :)

[NashVegas]

60. Maybe Two-Three Times, Was Never Harmed By It - BUT

My mom was pretty judicious about her spankings. There was always a damn good reason and they were never done while she was still angry. Only one time stands out in memory; it's not the pain I remember, but the reason for the spanking in the first place (wandered to the other side of town, as a 6 year old, without telling anyone), and that was because I scared the *shit* out of the woman.

The "but" part: I have no respect for parents who use physical punishment as a 'first line,' or make the mistake of thinking it's the physical force that's the punishment. Emotionally healthy children *want* their parents' approval. The physical aspect of spanking simply shows the extent of the disapproval. Going overboard never helped anyone.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

61. Yes, but only under two types of circumstances:

1) When we continued to do dangerous things despite being told not to. This type of spanking stopped after we were old enough to understand WHY we shouldn't try to climb onto the top of the stove.

2) When we were deliberately defiant of important household rules. This happened I think twice in my entire life.

We were never spanked on our bare butts, and never with anything but the palm of the hand.

[Piperay]

62. No, never

my parents didn't believe in corporal punishment, they never hit us or used any kind of physical punishments. I was never spanked and I came turned out just fine. :-)

[usregimechange]

63. Yes, but they beat me too.

[Dave Reynolds]

64. On occasion

that I really had it coming.

Mom used her hand, dad used his belt.

And WOW, I didn't grow up to be a child abuser or anything! :P

[ElectroPrincess]

65. Of course, but just good ole' Mom ...

early and often. If there was time for bravada, she'd walk out back to snag a fresh willow switch. If no time, she'd use whatever was available (Soup spoons, fly swatter, hair brush etc.)

Can't say as if I blame her and the spankings didn't hurt much, i.e., she's always been a scrawny little broad.

It was appropriate for she would have went insane otherwise, i.e., my two older brothers and me were naughty little sh*ts always getting into trouble.

[MrSlayer]

66. No, there was no need. You just didn't cross Dad.

The threat was enough to keep you in line.

[ComerPerro]

68. I'm 23 and they still spank me

Well. Not really.

[Kansas Wyatt]

69. Oh the childhood scars....

Pa use to whip the skin off of me, and Ma used to pummel me in the head with the heal of her shoe. Many a day, I suffered and endured the agony of whipping wounds. Pa finally stopped when he was whipping away on me and I noticed him breathing hard. I turned around and asked him, 'You about done yet?' He stopped turned around, walked away, and never touched me again.

No, there are no lasting affects at all, and it did make me a stronger person. I have found in adulthood that just talking to kids and explaining why they got in trouble and why they shouldn't screw-up is much more effective. Tends to make them want to be more responsible about things.