SPANKING? ABUSE? Alice Miller responds to a spanker
September 20, 2005


Hello:

I've read some of your literature and I felt compelled to respond. I was spanked as a child and I've paid close attention to the consequences and the effects it has on my parenting. Spanking should not be confused with abuse. For parents who spank lovingly, and there is such a thing, it is a last resort to correct. Some children require more firm discipline than others. Study the effects of adulthood on children raised with no discipline. Parents should seek out healthy boundaries to spanking when in question. I am an advocate for it because I have seen it change disrespect to respect and it can happen quickly. Children who are loved unconditionally can be spanked and learn from it. They go on to thank their parents for teaching boundaries and live life not crossing other peoples boundaries. Spanking is a personal decision and should not be judged by others unless they are willing to do the disciplining for you. Spare the Rod Spoil the Child.

Respectfully, T.


AM: To spank a child is a cruel, spiteful, ignoble, mean, disrespectful and dirty act because it is carried out towards a powerless person who is not allowed to defend herself / himself nor to escape from the aggressor and his ignorance. It is also a most destructive act because it damages the brain of the victims who will repeat their whole lives the lies and feeble mindedness of the King Solomon's "Spare the rod, spoil the child." Exactly the opposite is true. The rod spoils the child and leaves lingering effects for a whole life. Solomon learned his lie from his own parents as you learned it from yours, as your children will learn it from you.


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