Ok you got me I guess I don’t know what I’m talking about but I still say hitting little kids or shall I say inflicting physical pain on a child or adolescent in the moment of heightened emotions is theoretically probably a good idea or or do most people go and think for 30 minutes or so and then decide to spank or hit the child.
Its like training a dog. Wait 30 minutes, and the recipient is wondering "what the hell was
that for??". THAT, is abuse.
Kid acting up / mouthing off? Not listening to verbal discipline? Smack 'em
right then and there. ONCE. Think "exclamation point" on the verbal discipline statements. When they come down off their disrespect-high and their eyes well up from fear/pain/surprise, then you talk firmly to them and explain everything. You don't hit them again. ONE time to make the point, is discipline. Repeated strikes, is abuse.
Kids have no deterrence for misbehavior these days. This is a major reason this generation is so misbehaved - MY generation, I got my *** smacked HARD when I stepped out of line. I learned how to do drywall when I was 12, after dad shoved me into a wall. But, I never messed with his pistol again when he was away! (and, years later, he
gave me that pistol because he knew I could handle it at that point).
Its like anything - the punishment needs to equal the offense. Don't go smacking your kid because they didn't go to bed on time...but if they take your car for a joyride and run it up on a curb? That's a different story.
It needs to be made clear to these kids that actions have consequences, and there are rules for a reason. And to quote the Sherriff in
Cool Hand Luke - "some men, you just can't reach". Same for kids. You gotta find a way to get through to them. It may very well save their life, later on - if they're kept in line as kids, they likely won't mouth off to cops (and get shot for it) later in life.
You wanna listen to "experts"? Look at THEIR kids, and see how THEY behave. Proof is in the pudding. Oh, the "expert" doesn't even HAVE kids? Yea...no thanks.
Screw the "experts". Look at good children. Ask THEIR parents, "how did you do that?". Every kid is different, but I bet you'll see a trend....