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?

Late 30s. Raised by my Dad. Only smacked when I'd done something really naughty. He never did it in anger, it was always after the event and explained to us why he was doing it. It also didn't really hurt that much.

My Dad was a terrible father in a lot of ways, but the smacking was the least of it. I have never smacked my children and never would.

Yep, growing up in the 80's, my DSis and I were both smacked (hit?) by our dad, can't remember how often, but it was him losing his temper and having no idea how to deal with us as he didn't grow up in a family environment.
I'm still probably a bit scared of my DF (even though I'm 40+) and he and my DSis don't get on. I hate confrontation & displays of anger. I have to struggle to control my own anger in front of my DCs, and when DH loses his temper I have an (internal!) meltdown.
If either of us ever hit our DCs it might mean the end of our marriage.

Yes, occasional smack on backside or back of legs (through clothes, pretty painless) if deliberately disobeyed, particularly if it was dangerous. Grew up in 90s. No problem with it whatsoever (nothing like he experiences of PPs though) and very rarely give my older DC a tap on back of hand with "scary cross mummy" eyeballing and some variation of "don't you dare...". A lot of what PPs detail is extremely nasty and abusive violence. Really sad to read.

Yup. Belt, slipper, hand. Crack on the head, never caused me any long term damage. Quick sharp shock.
Kids are invincible these days, not condoning violence but you can't even shout at kids without being accused of verbal abuse so...good luck world 🥂

Yep by both parents. Dad would smack bottoms, mum smacked me round the face when I was about 7. Can't say it scarred me for life. Not nice but not the end of the world. Times have changed, that's how things were in the 80s, it was normal.

Yes, rarely. I am early thirties. I do not smack my own children.

I was smacked as a child, both parents smacked me. I was also given rows.

Didn't do me any harm. I have a great relationship with my parents.

I don't smack. I don't agree with it. I do give a row as and when needed.

Yes. With a leather belt on the most horrific occasions. Otherwise, it was the back of a hand.

Yes slaps on thighs/bottom when I was a child, and I have been punched in the face as a teenager by both my parents, and actually punched once in the face by my dad when I was 8.

It is sad that the only times in my life I have been physically assaulted is by my parents. I used to think it was my fault, but surely if I was that awful I'd have been punched by loads of people by now?

Incidentally I have always managed to control myself and not resort to physical violence no matter how pissed off I have been with someone, and would never dream of hitting my child.

Me, only by my dad. It was definitely in a loss of control moment and with 5 kids, some of whom with behaviour problems, he lost control a lot.

None of his children smack their children.

Yes quite regularly from what I remember. Both parents did it, my mum didn't hurt really but my dad whacked us. It didn't work in preventing us from "misbehaving" we just learnt ways to dodge the smacks. This was mainly in the 80's. I have never and would never smack my children.

I was born in the late sixties, My parents managed to raise 4 children without smacking any of us ever. I never smacked my DS either. It's abuse and it should be illegal.

Never! DS is nearly 5.

I always got the flip flop off my mum

I miss read the title! Yes I was smacked a lot as a child 😞

Nope never, and nor have I or would I with my DS.
It usually a sign of a parent loosing control, in the people I know at least.

My mother regularly smacked me, always round the face or ear. I clearly remember feeling the terrible injustice of it, even when i was young. In 1970, the headmaster of our tiny C of E school smacked my bottom with a slipper 5 times for moving a chair as another child went to sit down. I wasnt quite 5 years old.

Yes I was smacked and sometimes badly. Tbh I was still naughty afterwards it didn't teach me anything. It didn't affect me as a youngster except one occasion when I was smacked quite badly and I remember the emotional upset.

What did affect me however is being kicked and hit as a teenager and witnessing domestic violence between my parents. That shit affected me badly and I ended up in a DV relationship myself which Is common for people witnessing it and I often get angry quickly

Yep. Punched after about age 10. I was a very good kid though, I was never naughty.

No, and I was a 60s child. I've never smacked my DC either.

Constantly.

Mid 40s and yes I was smacked. My dad never did, just my mum and not loads but I remember it happening. Last time she did it I hit her back-not good but I stood up to her. I was scared to voice my opinions in case I got a smack.
Not a way to bring up kids.

Yes. I was smacked very hard quite a lot by my dad when I was growing up in the 90s. It was sometimes for accidental thinks like spilling a drink. Grew up scared of him, resentful and with anger issues of my own that I hate myself for. Plus internalised anger towards myself because I was never allowed to express healthy anger as a child and learn to deal with it. I just got hit.
So damaging, so unnecessary.

Slapped around face by mum& across legs by dad plenty growing up in 80's -made to' sit still like soldiers'??on couch for ages without moving or speaking if dad was drinking Tenants Super & watching tv whilst mum working nights..if we did move=big consequences.
Memories of terror/living on eggshells&comparing throbbing hand prints on bare legs/faces with sibling& listening to him battering her through the floorboards so scared to go to the loo in case they heard and turned on us...it all seems wierdly surreal looking back as this thread made me do!!
Also got spanked in school circa early 80's with long ruler& a gloved hand...
I was NC with both the minute i left home at 15& never looked back easy as i lived at worked overseas all my life before emigrating to Oz and having kids here.
Never even felt remotely like hitting DC .Violence towards children is criminal..

I late 50s and smacking was normal for bad behaviour.
We weren't smacked often an certainly not hard.When I was about 5 me and my brother were told if we were bad we would not be smacked.We were good for ages terrified as to what this punishment may be.It turned out to be standing in a corner,back to the room until you said sorry and really meant it.
My grandad also used to chase us upstairs to bed with his slipper.He never hit us not intended to it just got us moving upstair quickly,laughing.
I never smacked my DD but was tempted,small children can bring you to the brink sometimes.