does discipline mean hitting?

[fran28]

right..i have a nearly 2 year old...and i do not believe in hitting a child...i think its disgusting and horrible and i do not want to do this..my dad hit us and my sister hits her kids as punishment but it makes me sick to my stomach..can i raise my daughter without hurting her to teach her? i just dont think its right to hurt a child? is it possible?

Of course you can. Many/most parents these days never raise a hand to their kids. I remember the cane being part of school life, glad it's not now!

i hope ur right...i just feel like im gonna be doing a bad thing if i dont use hitting as discipline? by my sister and my dad? my sister even asked me if i would have a problem with my dad hitting my daughter? course i bloody do! she isnt even 2 yet! and she is my daughter!

Of course it's possible. They just have to know what is reasonable and acceptable and you have to treat them fairly and sensibly.

Well they are barmy!

Just be fair with her. Try and think about things from her point of view. Last week I was holding the honey squeezy bottle upside down, waiting for it to come out, and then I went to get something and I ended up trailing honey all over the floor and I even got some on the sofa. But it was just an accident! It would have been totally unfair if somebody had lamped me one for it!

thats what i think but im being told otherwise...i just dont want to humilate my daughter by using violence...i know having older kids can be hard ...am i being smug by saying i wont hit her?

There are many forms of discipline that are not physical. Your instincts are right, hitting a child is a nasty thing to do. Your Dad and sister think it's normal, that does NOT mean it is right.