This promo for The Insider ran tonight — it features paparazzi video of Kate Gosselin spanking her daughter Leah, and of course the Internet is already throwing a fit. The war against Kate Gosselin is the hottest thing going right now! (Check out the photo of last week’s newsstand I put on my Twitter.)
Opinions on the parental practice of spanking vary widely (although Ashley wrote a fantastic piece a couple weeks ago about the sexual practice of spanking). I gotta say, this video doesn’t look like abuse to me; it looks like a mother disciplining her child. But I don’t have children and I know some people feel quite differently. So, moms and dads out there, weigh in.
When I was growing up, if I got out of line, my parents didn’t put me in time out, they beat my ass. Time out for me was however long it took my dad to get “the Boss” or take off his belt. I believe Kate was in her right, regardless of everything that has happened between then and now. If they start to act out like Leah was doing, you’ve got to nip it in the bud, or the kid will think they can get away with everything.
I think spanking is more than just about what happens during at the time of the spanking.
I don’t agree with spanking. It’s happened to me when I was young but it was a rare occurance. I don’t hate my parents for it or hold anything against them. But to be honest, I can’t say I’d feel the same if I my parents had the same attitude as Jens… not trying to be offensive, I just think respect has to go two ways. The best way to teach is by example.
But I can understand why it happens.
I think the overal attitude to how a child is raised and tought respect is what matters. Everyone makes mistakes and lets anger and frustration get the better of them from time to time. Even parents.
No one is perfect.
Spanking shows that the parent lacks the reasoning skills and compassionate ambition to teach their children how to behave.
Just like it is unacceptable to hit an animal who does not behave, it is unacceptable to hit a child. Words, not fists.
How do we expect our children to behave as adults if we teach them to hit others in order to get their ways?
If I follow your logic, my parents are incapable of logic or reason, and violent. Thanks.
Also, I do hit my dog. If she is chewing on my shoes when I come home from work, snatching the shoe out of her mouth and saying “no” does not effectively communicate my point. I tried that. It didn’t work. A few times later, I snatched the shoe, popped her on the nose and said “no.” She got it that time, and hasn’t chewed on my shoes since.
And please don’t compare children to animals. One has reason and free will, the other does not.
I saw a parent in the sporting goods section in Wal Mart slap her kid on the hand because she was slapping her mom’s arm.
Calling the kettle black much?
I have never spanked my kid and I don’t regret it one bit. It only teaches children fear and not understanding. I have always taken things away and when he starts acting better, he earns them back. When he does something wrong, he has consequences without being physically hurt. Besides, what am I supposed to do when he’s 16? Spank him? Whateva!
Funny thing is, is that my dad used to whip me with a twig. I actually preferred it because it was DONE AND OVER with. I love my father, but I still don’t agree with what he did.
My parents spanked the crap out of me when I was a child and I have no grief with them. I have respect. Small children don’t have extensive reasoning skills but they do tend to remember that they got spanked last time the decided to color on the walls. I agree with spanking and my children are now learning when they are about to cross a line. As children get older they gain judgement and reasoning skills and that it when parents need to start backing off with the spankings and start time outs and taking away priviledges. It makes more sense to do that with the older ones.
Its a kid, whats the big deal? So what.