You know my dh mentioned this to me.. my first thought... Oh great! Thats just what we need. Needless to say I find myself in agreement with everyone...

I once had someone call Childrens services on me....
We were getting out of the car in front of the day care center, my then 4 year old got out of the car last... reason.. she is a runner, I know this so I take the baby out and all the gear for both of them, then take her bye the hand and close the car door with my tush...

As we walk across the busy parking lot of a shopping mall, she pulls her hand loose and bolts...now me with baby and gear run after her as I reach for her she moves funny and all I get is a handfull of hair... now was that what I was reaching for.. NOOO I wanted her shirt... well let me tell you that was turned into a 45 minute meeting with my boss.. because guess what .. I was a teacher at that school...and then another 45 mins with the lady from childrens services.. good thing she had known me for 6 years... she knew better.

I can only imagine what that would have been like for someone who wasn't known by the people in charge.

Oh and it turns out the parent that reported it... was one whos child had a biting problem, we told them just a few days prior to this that they needed to find other care, because she was a danger to other students... think they were a little upset?

Kelly

I agree with this. I certainly never spanked my kids very much, and really only gave swats on the bottom or legs, or an occasional hand slap. But I don't think they grew up traumatized children for it. They're both teens and have NEVER hit another child (well maybe when they were toddlers) and are very non violent. I heard someone talking the other day about kids fighting and I couldn't imagine one of my kids in a fight. I really think it's more of an attention getter for children. We did do mostly time outs, but with an occasional swat thrown in. The idiocy of this law is that true child abusers won't care and this won't keep them from abusing. True child abusers are people without impulse control that hit or beat when they are out of control and who won't be thinking about it. So nope...not for it.

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My cousin called CYS on his parents claiming child abuse after they spanked him and reprimanded him (I believe he was trying to play in the street). He found out about it at school and CYS got all up in their faces.. It was nuts. They had the hardest time parenting the rest of their children because CYS was constantly checking in on the family.

I agree with others' comments left here. There are times when it is okay; I was raised that way and I turned out just fine! Do I beat my child? No. He's only 2 and he doesn't understand some things. I have to work with that when I'm disciplining him. But he's 2, so sometimes timeouts don't work or he does something without thinking that is really dangerous, and he gets a swat on the bum. Nothing to bruise him. Just to get his attention and let him know I mean business in my discipline.

I think the whole law against it is STUPID. spend our tax dollars on something, anything, else. Let's pay the police to do their job finding those that abuse or molest kids, and not spend tons of money on kids crying wolf to the authorities because they don't like that they were reprimanded for doing something wrong. How many kids that get abused at home come out in school and tell someone about it? How many call the cops? Very few. Terror keeps them silent. The only ones that will suffer are those that need help the most!

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I don't know if this was taught in my children's schools and I've never had CPS called on me, but one time when I threatened to spank my son he said "If you do I'll call the police". I said well fine, you can call the police. Then they'll take you away and put you in foster care where they'll probably be much meaner to you than we are. So if you think we're that bad, then call. Needless to say he didn't call because my kids actually have it pretty easy & nice here, and I guess he was smart enough to figure it out.

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Whether a parent believes in spanking or not this law is outragous and ridiculous!! I do not believe in child abuse, but spanking to get a child's attention from either running out into the street or a swat on the hand to stay away from something dangerous is not abuse! When will the government draw the line?

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Mel and Jas- 5/24/02
Jake- 2/21/03
Tyee- 9/27/04
Luke- 6/16/07

No slamming here. I agree with you.

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Mary

I agree with you 100% too. I am raising my kids just like my parents did with myself and my siblings. Did they give us a spanking once and awhile, sure they did. Do I still love them for it? YES My parents raised 4 childern and we are all good well rounded adults. We respect our elders and love our childern. Do we make our childern angery at times because they got a little "butt warming"(as my grandpa called it) sure. But they know that we love them and we only do it because they are misbehaving.

I think it is awful that we live in a time where we have to be afraid to discipline our own children. Did I get my butt beat every now and again, ABSOLUTELY! Did I deserve it, ABSOLUTELY! I don't make a habit of spanking but when there is nothing that is getting their attention, a tap on the behind is not a bad thing, IMO. By today's standards, my childhood could be called abusive, though I never felt it was. Back then, you had fear of elders, respect. I wouldn't dare tell my parents that I would call the cops if I knew I was getting a spanking. Heck, in my elementary and middle schools, paddling was a form of discipline for students! Don't I feel old with all the "back in my day" talk, but it's true, times have changed!

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Ashley

Honestly i'm afraid of what the future holds for the U.S. Our kids are getting more and more spoiled and less and less disciplined.

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Jodie....Wife to Andrew (1995)
Mommy to Riley (2000) and Wyatt (2003)

I do not believe in abuse. Being an abused child myself i wouldnt not even think about doing it. But if my child needed a swat on the butt i will give it. Haveing 4 kids i have had to give them out. the most i slap swat is 2. they feel it and know the reason why. A child under 2 should not need them but as the age of 3 yes they really start to push the buttons and want to see sometimes how far they can go. time out usually wor but sometimes a swat on the bum needs to be given. But to make a law that says you cant is just dumb. Its saying that parents have no control over their children and the children know it and get away with anything. Where is the logic in that.