I love my children. I would never beat my children. I would never leave a mark on them. This article made no distinction between hitting/beating and spanking, or a swat on the tush.

My kids rarely get a swat, but there are times it is warranted, but never without warning, and never in anger. Let me qualify that statement...running in the grocery store parking lot...there's no warning there. A swat is swiftly delivered with no guilt on my part.

With my oldest, a swat is rarely necessary...I'd say, maybe twice a year? If I had to guess. Even at 4 he has wonderful reasoning skills, and when given a choice between listening, and a swat on the tush...he listens. Now the swat is a choice of last resort...not beacuse I think it's bad...but because you don't want it to lose it's power. Exactly as the article said...kids adjust to the punishments. Time-outs are my go-to punishment for him. But, sometimes his behavior will warrant something stronger...but I always give him a choice and time to decide.

My daughter is 3 and has an auditory processing dissorder...and while she's finally gaining headway in her ability to understand...she could sit all day in time out and have no idea why she was there. It's simply more practical, and less frustrating, (for her and me) to use a physical punishment...because she can process it. I could explain things until I'm blue in the face, and it would do nothing. With her, I usually use a flip on her hand, and a two-three word communication of what she did wrong. As she progresses in her ability to understand, we'll follow the same consequence pattern as her older brother.

I don't want my children cowed before me in fear. I want them to be strong individuals, and feel comfortable expressing their emotions. But, I also want my children to learn to obey, listen, and follow instructions. I don't run a boot camp. There are times that I will let behavior slide because they are overtired, sick, or just overwhelmed. But, there is a point at which the kids will get a choice, follow instructions or get a swat on the tush. Then I tell them I'm going to count to 5 (sometimes 10, if they're really having a hard time) so that they can decide. If they choose not to obey, that swat is delivered without any guilt on my part.

As kids get older, the need for a swat or spanking, generally disappears...because more creative forms of punishment can be used...such as losing priviledges, or treats. The idea of using physical punishments on an adolescent is beyond rediculous to me...there are so many things available to "motivate" a teen to listen and follow instructions. But, until childnre have the ability to understand future consequences, swats are very valuable.

I'm not a mean parent, and I feel very comfortable with my discipline regimine. I don't approve to corporal punishment in schools. But, time-outs are fine. I wouldn't want a school to have to discipline my child at all, so hopefully with the consistency they get at home...it won't be an issue.