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Thursday, August 05, 2004

Topic O' The Day: Spanking

Well, I was involved in a chat session this morning when a very interesting topic came up. The girl I was chatting with mentioned how she sometimes had to spank this 4-year-old girl who sometimes spends the night with her or something. Well I commented that I know some people who would have a big problem with that. So, the question I want to pose is, do you think it is OK to spank someone else's children? And along the same line, would you think it was OK if someone else spanked your children? I would think the answer would be the same for one as it is for the other, but maybe not. Now, I don't want to get into whether or not you think spanking or whipping is right or wrong, in general. That's another topic for another time. Although I must say this, if my Mom and Dad had given me a Time Out when I was little, I would have been rejoicing like nobody's business. If I did decide to try giving my child a Time Out, I think that I would do it something like Dick Vitale. I'd wave my arms and be very demonstrative and stuff, and say, "T.O. Babee!!! Somebody needs a T.O."

Anyway, on to the topic at hand. Let me preface this by saying that not having any kids, this is only what I think I would do. I might change my mind were I ever actually in the situation. But here is my opinion as of right now. I think I would have a big, big problem if someone else were to spank my children. They are MY kids, and I will discipline them. If they misbehave at your house, let me know about it, and I will take care of it when they get home. I plan to raise them to be well-mannered and well-behaved, and when spanking is necessary, I will do so. Not you.

On the other hand, I would not feel comfortable spanking someone else's kids, even if they asked me to. There have been many times when I have thought to myself, "That child needs a whooping." But that is not my place. I guess the exception to me would be a teacher or principal. I was paddled more than once in school, as you might imagine, and I am OK with that.

I guess basically, it is a matter of personal preference. My grandmothers never spanked me, but I guess I can see that some people would be OK with relatives spanking their kids. I don't think that I would, though. Of course, let me add that me thinking about what I would do with kids is kind of like me thinking about what I would do with a million dollars. Neither scenario seems very likely to occur. WOOOOOOOO!!!

So, I want to know:
Do you think it is OK to spank someone else's children?
And, do you think it is OK for someone else to spank your children?

"Well I've learned to love myself and I don't need no one else. When love moves on cos it gets old, a new love moves in and it can fill the hole..."

5 comments:

  1. Spanking someone elses kid is not a good thing. It induces loud crying and embarassment as well as a potential butt kicking from the parents of the child. So I'd have to vote no on this subject.

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  2. Well, that's one thing we agree on then ;-)

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  3. I don't think it's okay to spank someone else's children, because I wouldn't want anyone else spanking mind.

    Recently being faced with becoming a "parent" of sorts, if anyone else spanked my neice or nephew that I take care of now, I would be like "excuse me, *punch*, now how's that feel?" LOL...okay so not that far, but ya know what I mean (:

    I'm not their mother, obviously, but I am filling that role, so I can smack them all I want! Okay, so I rarely ever spank them, but my Duchess of Doom look--well I've got it down pretty darnget good--and that's all it takes. (: (:

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  4. well if you keep this child alot and take her to church she is under my care i do have permission to spank this little girl and since i have a 12 yearold i'm a little expericenced on how children are to behave in church its sad that her family don't take her to church or when she did go they would eat or it would be like a party i don't belive in that so she has to sit still in church like us adults do we can't let them get away with doing things they shouldn't do or they are never going to learn to be still and when they are they are alseep and i want this little girl to grow and learn the bible and sing and not sleep in church or not pay attention the preacher when she's alittle older thats my opinion

    bone maybe i'll bring her to church next time i come to visit u you'll understand alittle better its hard to disipline children and its a job not an adventure especially in church. still luv ya what !rofl

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  5. Whoa whoa whoa! I never said it was easy or not a job. Well if her mom has no problem with it and you clearly don't have a problem with it, I guess that is OK. But I'd be careful, because I know a lot of people who would have a problem with it, including myself.

    Obviously, there are certain exceptions, situations where you are the guardian or acting as the guardian or whatever. But if you're just babysitting someone for a few hours or overnight... well, I just would not feel comfortable spanking a kid in that kind of situation. That is not my job.

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