If you spank correctly, it is NOT done in public or in view of anyone including other siblings because it is not supposed to cause embarrassment. If spanking is done correctly, you discuss with your child first calmly so they understand why and exactly how many swats they are getting. If it is done correctly, it is NOT done in anger. If you need to calm down for a second before going into the room the child is in to administer the spanking, that is fine, but it should never be done in anger. And if you spank correctly, it is immediately followed by loving words and a hug because the child has been talked to about the situation and they were not afraid during it.
I know many children brought up in this way who are kind and generous, who grow up to become productive members of society. The bible says, "Spare the rod, spoil the child." Too many kids these days don't feel the need to respect adults and too many kids these days are growing up in age, while never growing up in maturity.

I never think it is OK for an adult to "hit" a child no matter how softly. What you are doing is letting the child know the only way to solve things is with violents. When my daughters were in pre-school, you could tell the children that were "hit" and the ones that were not....the former child would resort to slapping any time they didn't get that they wanted. Also, I always wondered why the Gosslin child were always hitting, slapping and biting each other....they learned from their mother.

Blowing a whistle repeatedly may be a little extreme for a spanking and I believe that calls for a "time out" for the whistle take it away and hide it for a day. take a breather and don't hit your kids for being kids just because you have "important" adult things to do. However, swatting to prevent severe harm or death to themselves or another is not abuse.

When my daughter was younger, I would swat her hand if she did something that endangered herself, or someone else. I never did it in the heat of anger, but very deliberatly, to make her realize that actions do have consequences.
Now she is 8, and she has not been swatted for some years. She now understands other punishments, and nothing she does is to hurt someone.

Sometimes the behavior is so unacceptable that it's way out of porportion to a time out. When my son throttled a kid at school, I said he was getting a spanking. We did it very officially. Seven swats that didn't hurt much, the humiliation for us both was the worst part. The interesting part was ... he seemed relieved to have gotten a punishment that fit crime ... and it worked. No more aggressive behavior. No more spanking.

I am a mom of 5 kids. I was beat with a belt growing up. I am agenst abusing children...but a mild swat to the butt is not going to cause any long term affects...especialy if it is only once and awile when needed. I believe that kids are out of control these days due to the lack of desipline in households. Parents are more worried about the kids "feelings"and or being friends with their kids rather than approperate dicipline. Every mom has thier own way of doing things.....But DON"T slam the moms who spank.....it is their Perogitive!!!!!!!

Who doesn't lose it every now and then? abuse and spankings are 2 totally different things.

I try to be the best parent possible. I try to be strict and firm so that I can raise my child to be a respectable responsible member of society. As long as you never spank out of anger it can be a very good thing. If a child doesn't look before walking across the street, or goes to touch something hot, you give them a swat or a little slap on the hand. It triggers the brain and the next time they are in the same situation, they think. I discipline my daughter with spankings too. sometimes time out will work better. it all depends on the situation.

I'm all for time-out as punishment. If that doesn't work, then my child will get a swat on the behind. I will later explain to her why she received the spanking. I want my child to understand the difference between right and wrong.

Society has gotten where you can't discipline your child without someone saying your beating them. But no one is looking at it from ages ago when that was how a child was disciplined. Children have only gotten worse over the years as parents stopped using spankings as punishment.

As I child I was spanked very little, but I did not act out often. When my husband and I got pregnant with my daughter I did not think I would ever spank her. I WAS WRONG! Sometimes with little kids spanking is the only way to get their attention.
Now, I do not knock them off of their feet, or bruise them, just a swift "pat" on a diapered butt to get their attention. We use words and the corner/couch time out far more often, but some times I do still spank. Does this make me a bad abusive mom? No. I'm a strict mom, and I will teach my kids discipline--and I've been rewarded with 2 wonderful kids that don't need many times outs...