" worst beating ever. I hated to do it but she had to learn."

There is a fine line between discipline and outright cruelty, and beating anyone crosses that line. I wasn't beaten as a kid although that leather strop my stepfather used on me wasn't exactly pleasant It did teach me a valuable lesson though, never upset the man to anger (In fairness to my stepfather, I would have probably done the same things to my stepkids in his situation)

Hello my friend How are you today? Well I say as a child my mom use to beat us not wild and crazy but enough to do the job, she raised four children and when we did not listen she took out her strap I don't have a problem with this, my daughter is 26 I think I popped her on her butt twice we all grew up to be great kids as well as adults my mom has 1 son and he got his as well and he is the best man I know, so I guess it depends on the child/parent/ here I grew up with this and never had to beat my child like my mom did me, more so because she was a wonderful child never gave me any problems really so its really hard to say, I think if some kids had that discipline in their life they would not be so darn disrespectful now, kids cursing at their parents doing whatever they want coming in all times of the night, having no respect for other adults I don't know my friend this is hard, I say don't over do it but take a belt to them when needed.

I wqas never beaten as a child either but I got my fair share of whippings with odd objects for no reason alot of times. I think a swat on the rearend when a child needs to be scolded is alright at times but not too frequently also. Sometimes timeout and other discipline will not work as well but beating is out of the question or whippings for no reason.

I grew up in a time when spankings were common discipline. I always swore that when I had kids that I'd never resort to that sort of discipline and the fear tactics. I had 4 kids. There were a couple of occasions that they were spanked when they were young. I remember because I felt so so bad....they don't recall them at all. I did spank my middle daughter when she was 16. It was the first spanking she'd ever gotten. She was very rebellious....mouthy and making really bad choices. One night she got up in my face and said something so disrespectful...can't write it here. I flipped that girl over and slapped her butt. She held her head as she cried "mom, what in the hll are you doing?" I told her that I was giving her the spanking she should have gotten years ago. Then I realized she was protecting her head....not her butt. We are all blonde here. I got giggling so so hard that I was completely uneffective. She remembers being angry because I laughed at her. I wasn't meaning to but it just struck me. Anyway...3 of my girls are grown and they are very respectable and nice people. My 15 year old is a doll & never once gotten a spanking or grounded or anything. I wish I could tell you what I did to deserve such wonderful kids....It'd be a best seller. I really don't know. I raised them alone & while I strived to be...I was far from a perfect parent...just ask them. All I can say is that you can raise good people without physical punishment...I'm testimony.

Hi hatley! I don't agree on beating kids on a cruel manner at all. Beating with a purpose however is different. I experienced being beaten as a child growing up for punishment for being naughty or disobedient. My mother would be quick to explain why, and though it is not pleasant the lessons I learned is all worth it. Those beatings never leave scars on me both physically and emotionally. The problem with some parents today is they get out of control. They use beatings as an outlet to their many frustrations at the expense of even their own child. And they call it discipline. Some have acquired the practice from an old school parent that do it excessively. Yet I don't agree with not beating a child at all too. I have seen friends do it and is very saddened with the result in the attitude of their children. As a teacher, I have also observe the effect to the kids in relation to her acceptance of punishment outside the home. She tends to be rebellious and unteachable in some ways.

Hi, I used to be a naughty child according to my mother so I get beaten up all the time. What I learned from all the beatings is that my mother didn't love me and I even entertained the idea that she was my step-mother because my other sisters didn't get any beatings. It was always me. Even up till now I still cry for that child that was me. Don't beat your children out of anger. In fact, don't beat your children at all. I grew up to be a very shy and introverted person and full of inhibitions. And always unsure of myself.

There is no need for beating, I hate it and I have seen it over the Years Parents beating the child I did more talking to my Children, they have had the occasional slap on the Legs or Arm but very rare The same when Parents scream at their Children it is another thing I hate Beating to me is abusing the Child and there is no need

I was beaten as a kid and I'm a good kind person too. But i did marry a man who also beat me. My spirit was basically broken. I'm quite fearful and find it near impossible to stand up for myself and be assertive. I was hard on my own kids but more controlled than my own parents, hitting them was the only way I knew how to discipline them as it was how I was treated and what was learned and fortunately they have turned out to be quite strong in their own way. Fortunately again they have not followed in my footsteps with their own children.

The purpose of spanking a child is supposed to be to teach them that the behavior they are using is unacceptable. Beating them doesn't teach them that...it teaches them violence. There are ways of correcting kids without spanking them but most parents don't want to take the time to teach their kids right from wrong and they figure a smack is quicker and easier. My Mom and Dad never beat me but I did get a few spankings growing up. Mostly I learned that bad behavior upset them and made them disappointed in me, which in most cases was worse than any spanking. [b]!!Happy Turkey Day!! ~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]

I wasn't either and neither were my kids....but I know what you are talking about..my ex....was beaten as a child and continued the circle until I broke it....he kept saying that he was treated like that and he turned out okay....and I told him no he didn't....when we got a divorce we had to go for counciling....they told him the same thing! No need to beat a child! Ever!

Hi Hatley, When I was a child I had enough of the beatings for being 'naughty' etc then when I had my own children I swore never to beat them instead they got a slap at the top of their leg and the tone of my voice let them know when they had been naughty..so my take on beatings is that it not necessary to discipline a child like that there are so many other ways and means of doing that without even touching the child....LoLo

I think that doing such a thing, especially with your emotions not completely composed, and that of your child's not completely composed (though how would there's or could there's be what with them being beaten or even just spanked?) can cause damage to the relationship between the two, and that of the emotions of the child after they grow up and as they grow up. I don't like spanking, I'm against it! It can really mess up a person's emotions, and even yelling can do that. The best way to teach a child is to calmly but sternly instruct them in what they should do, and punish them by grounding them or taking away priviliges.

Hi Hatley, I do hate so called mothers beating their child up because they can't handle it, they don't know how to decipline them, its disgusting, children don't learn how to be good person by been beaten, I never was and I have turned out ok. Tamara

I think hitting a child is not right by any means. That goes for spanking too. Why on earth would you hit someone that is your child? You are messed up. You are a bad parent. I do not care that you were hit as a child. The cycle needs to break at some point. I do not care how good of a life your child has, if you hit them, you are a bad parent.

Personally in my opinion, this is Child Abuse, and will never teach anyone anything except to be afraid or to be bully and abuser themselves as they get older as well. From someone who grew up in an Abusive home I can remember what it is like to FEAR your parents no matter what you did, and it can often change your outlook on life. But thru counseling other guidance, etc. anyone can learn to get thru it as well. Just parents like this need to have their children removed and they need to be taught other ways to teach and train others as well.

i was never beaten as a child and i am a firm believer in NO CHILD ABUSE. occasionaly when it is strictly nesscary i will "spank" my kid on th bottom when it is due, not to the point they are crying and i hurt them, just to let them no "hey i mean business" i think cild abuse it so wrong and some children suffer it and it just saddens me.. My husband was beat when he was a child and he aswell is against child abuse. He was beaten i was not we are both good decent people..

I've got a story to tell but nonetheless, I still love my parents for they did the best they could in these times..... but I know they could've done better..... My parents had a horse that they rescued from a man who beat him. They fenced in an area just for him. One Easter Sunday, I was about 2 years old and mom had dressed me all up in everything white, frills this and lace that. Then she went to dress my two older brothers and left me alone. Some how I got outside and got into the horse pen and played in the mud. Mom said she frantically searched for me and found me there in the horse pen. She said she picked me up and beat me so hard and so much that dad had to pull her off of me! She told me this as if it were ok! My mind is boggling over the story because although I didn't remember it and still don't, I remember being afraid to go into the horse pen but seeing it from the fence on and not going inside because I was afraid to and didn't know why. Well, I know why now! Another time was I was jokingly telling my mom that she has never beat me with a belt like she has with my brothers and she said that she would if I needed it and I jokingly said No you won't and she said she would and would prove it to me right now if I'd like and I told her that she wouldn't. She got up and got the worst belt, the one with metal rings on it and beat me with it! I mean she beat me with that damned belt and for what reason?! To prove that she could and would. I'll never forget that. Another time was, I was dating a guy that my parents didn't like and was about to be engaged to him and my dad told me that I wasn't going to wear a ring from this guy in his house and I said that I will too if and when I get it and he said oh no you're not and I said that I would because it would belong to me not him. I was sitting on the floor at the time and he rushed over, picked me up by my hair and threw me on the floor all the while I was kicking and hitting trying to get away from him and his hands turned into fists and he beat me in my face so bad that I had two black eyes. Another time he almost broke my arm.... No wonder I left home at the tender age of 16.

I agree with spanking a child, but beating? I'm sorry no, no. I think there are many reasons people do it, from addictions to how they were raised or even control freaks. I think it is a sad that a person would have to physically hurt someone that is so small and defensless just to prove a point. That isn't proving anything other than they are just bad parents.

hi hatley, Beating small kids is very inhumane and the kids should not be subjected to violence at all but as kids grow up and become too naughty then sometimes they have to be contorlled like ii have a nephew who was never beaten till he was 8 and then daily complaints would come from the neighbourhood how he is beating other kids or snatching things from them. And my cousin brother tried to reason with the kid a lot and he would say yes he wont do it and in evening again someone came complaining..this went for few days until my cousin lost his cool and he gave that kid nice thrashing... since that day he has stopped beating kids in neighbourhood so here beating helped cus he didnt listen to reasoning for days. So it basically depends upon kid to kid.

I don't think it works; I think it makes the child more defiant, and of course it's cruel and it should be illegal. You're absolutely right that the child doesn't learn anything because violence does not teach. It cannot teach. It can only incite anger and beget more violence. I agree with your position entirely.