Hands up, how many of us were smacked as children?

[Brownwool]

Just doing my own survey here. For me it was just normal. A bloody good smacking certainly taught us what not to do. It was more about my parents being unable to control themselves. And now things have changed so much. I just wonder how many MNrs were routinely smacked?

Nope never.

3 times in my whole life. I'm 35. Talking to my Dad he remembers each and every time like it was yesterday and feels awful. Me? Not mentally or physically scarred.
Would I smack my own children? No.

Yep by both parents

Yes, regularly by both parents as a child in the 90s. Definitely feel like it was done by my parents I’m anger and when they felt out of control. Personally I didn’t learn from it as it went against my sense of justice so I saw every punishment as unfair regardless of what i’d done so I never reflected on my behaviour but just on theirs and how awful they were.

I’ve never hit my children.

raises hand

Yep.

Not routinely, it was reserved for when I did something that would cause me or others harm like playing with the gas knobs on the cooker after being told a million times not to.

Yes by both parents.

Yep but not particularly regularly and i couldnt tell you what for
Hasnt caused me any emotional harm

Yep

I was and it left me with lifelong issues. And I don’t think it made me a better child it just filled me with anger bitterness and resentment. It also affected my relationship with my mum long term. And no it wasn’t outrageous abuse but it was what was considered “normal” physical chastisement in those days.
As a result I am very anti smacking and would like to see it outlawed.

I was. Not so much as a child but as a teenager certainly. I was not well behaved, would get a smack round the head off my dad, my mum would batter me. No weapons or bruises but a good hiding.

Two of my close friends had exactly the same.

Yes, by both parents and grandparents. Dm to this day still thinks it's good practice 'to let children know when they have gone too far and you're only human too'.

I don't feel damaged by being smacked but I would never smack my own children. It's a loss of control of self and lashing out, everything we try to teach children not to do.

I'm 50, almost never happened, maybe 4 times, not a smack, a set aside, wait till your father comes home spanking. Stopped when I was 5 and that's the only I remember, because he couldn't do it. They spoke to us and I have no idea why or how but we listened.

Yep. By both parents. I was hit with items as well as with hands. One of my parents ended up being charged with a crime because of this.

Yes, I was smacked. It was outrageous. I never smacked mine and wouldn't have allowed anyone else to, it's just plain wrong.

Yep. And I thought less of my parent with every occasion. I saw it as her losing control (and she very much did). I used to go very calm and very self contained. Like I was rising above her. I tired never let to let her see me cry or see me scared.

Yep me. My mum hit me when she was frustrated with her own life. I used to be terrified of her.
I don't hit my son.

Yes. Not quite daily by mother. Never by father.

Yep. I was smacked regularly. Sometimes with a hand, more often with implements: shoes/slippers, wooden handled breadboard, feather duster (solid plastic with metal inside), anything that my mother could get hold of. My 'crime' was generally being the eldest and not 'dealing with' my younger 2 siblings when they misbehaved. None of my friends were disciplined in this way.

Me. I’m 42.

I had the bible quoted to me, spare the rod and spoil the child. It was for my own good apparently 🙄

Very very regularly, more so when Dad wasn’t home as he was the usual victim.

yes, mainly by DM (who did the childcare to be fair). With canes, wooden spoons, forks and sticks out of the hedge. I hated her as a child. As an adult I can see the situation more broadly. I can't honestly say it wasn;t an effective way to instil discipline as we children knew very well we had to do as we were told, but it stored up something else, the idea that I would get even or get out, it wasn't good for our relationship and that had other consequences.

Yep. And it didn't work because I kept getting smacked. So clearly I didn't learn. Years later I asked my mother about it, and she said she didn't care whether I learnt or not, it made her feel better

I do not, and will never smack my kids. Even if everyone else was hitting their own, even if it was legal now, I would not ever do it. Or even think it. It's violence. I don't do violence.

Never . My parents were very against it .