To get so stressed about my kids’ car behaviour

229 replies

theremightbesevennow · 07/08/2026 16:07

There is a lot of unbuckling of seatbelts and climbing all over the car, screaming, fighting and general manic behaviour. They don’t do this alone either, it’s only when they are both together. And I’ve no idea how to deal with it (the usual tactics just haven’t worked.)

I can’t just refuse to drive anywhere as we’d never leave the house (rural.)

OP posts:

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Doone22 · 12/08/2026 16:34

IdaGlossop · 11/08/2026 22:41

In the majority of European countries, including Wales and Scotland, the assault of children is illegal. The ban includes smacking. My parents brought my brother and me up without smacking in the 1960s and 1970s. My brother and I have followed their example. Neither my parents, my brother nor I are incapable, despite all of us defining smacking as violence. If you are an assaulter of children living in England, you're off the hook.

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i think you'll find assault has a very different legal definition and people who choose to discipline their children using smacking are not guilty of it: the law already protects children from violent beatings and always has - don't make assumptions about my ignorance

Peonies12 · 12/08/2026 16:41

Kingdomofsleep · 08/08/2026 20:23

I've not smacked my kids but you must see your comment makes no sense. Smacking used to be common and isn't any more. Mental health issues are on the rise. There's no way you can conclude that they're on the rise because they're being smacked? Children are less smacked than ever before!

I do think children are a lot happier if they are constantly encouraged to be well behaved. It's like I said upthread, op can't fix the car issue in isolation. She needs to completely adjust her children's way of interacting with her on a daily basis. They need to do what she says! It'll take work and probably several months of adjustment

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It was common when I was young (I'm in my 30s). And everyone I know has awful relationships with their parents and is in therapy.

IdaGlossop · 12/08/2026 17:53

@doone22 I think you'll find that from a legal perspective, smacking children can be defined as a form of assàult. This information from the Scottish government on smacking children: https://www.mygov.scot/smacking-children It includes the line 'Children have the same right to protection from assault as adults.' No assumptions necessary on my part.

Typo

Smacking and children

From 7 November 2020 all forms of physical punishment or physical discipline of children is against the law in Scotland.

https://www.mygov.scot/smacking-children

Timeforachange26 · 17/08/2026 12:46

Peonies12 · 12/08/2026 16:41

It was common when I was young (I'm in my 30s). And everyone I know has awful relationships with their parents and is in therapy.

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See I have kids in their 30s and I don't know any of their friends or them that were smacked.

My brother occasionally got smacked by my dad nearly 50 years ago. He had a good relationship with him. Certainly did need " therapy"

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