It hasn't been easy to change the way I parent and I have a long way to go and much to learn but today I could see that the kids are learning that with freedom of choice comes taking responsibility for your own decisions.

In all the years I spanked I wanted my kids to take responsibility for their actions and what I was doing, was making it impossible for them to do just that.

At first I felt like talking with them just wasn't enough, but I see now that it is because each time I respond calmly and encourage them to talk things through instead of spanking them, they have the freedom (because I'm not making them feel bad) to look at themselves and their actions and be responsible. It's awesome.

It reminds me of that John Holt quote about fear inhibiting learning. How can our kids learn about themselves and getting along with others if they are fearful of pain everytime they make a mistake? It's only when they have freedom to make mistakes that they learn. All I have to do is be there to guide and help and love.

It's so simple and uncomplicated. I just wish I had realized nine years ago. There wouldn't be so much to undo.

Julie (mjsolich...) June 2003

I usually just read everything and lurk in corners but I have to agree with the no spanking thread. Spanking is control, pure and simple. It's "I'm bigger and stronger than you and I can make you do whatever I want". If we hit an adult it's a punishable offense, people who beat animals are jailed, hitting a child is somehow excusable? I don't think so!

Hitting teaches the child that physical force is ok. How will you deal with your child when he hits another over a toy? YOU'VE taught him that behavior. How do you exlain to him that hitting is ok for you but if HE does it HE'LL get hit because it's unacceptable for him!

Everytime you resort to hitting you diminish the very essence of who your child is. Our children are not animals that need to be trained. Any parent who expects or demands complete obedience and uses spanking to attain that obedience needs to get a handle on their OWN emotions and feelings.

Beth

I'm going to say that I'm old - over 50 and have been very actively involved with many children and their families for many years - observing hundreds of children. Kids who are spanked are NOT better behaved than those who are not. And, yes, some who are NOT spanked are wild and undisciplined and a big nuisance to be around. ALL who are spanked are somewhat sneaky about their own misbehavior - I honestly have ONLY seen it work that way - physical punishments makes kids sneaky. Plus - many who are spanked are violent with other kids. Many kids who are never spanked, but are raised by very "present" parents who have pretty high expectations for kids to behave with integrity - are just amazingly kind and sweet and wonderful and a joy to interact with.

Point is: Spanking has HUGE risks. Spanking is not necessary. My mother and father were almost never spanked by their parents. My mother and father never spanked me. My husband and I have never spanked our kids.

It is possible. To hit children is, in my opinion, a sign of a lack of imagination and not knowing what else to do.

-pam

To anyone who thinks that it's a good idea to punish their children... Please keep reading and keep learning here. There ARE other ways (gentler, more loving and actually KIND ways!) to raise a child. I know what I'm talking about, because I'm writing about it from the recovery side... I used to spank, punish, and degrade my children on occasion before I found these Unschooling.com message boards. (before I really UNDERSTOOD unschooling, and before I really did my own soul-searching, that is...)

I seriously thought that I was doing the "right" thing by the way I was parenting-- but I can tell you-- I wasn't being the parent I wanted to be (in my heart), and my kids were NOT turning out to be the kids I that had hoped they would be.

It started changing (for the good) when I changed ME and the way *I* thought.

Now, my kids are SUPER kids! Because I treat them respectfully and equally- they are learning to BE respectful and well-behaved. They weren't so much before. As I look back, I can see how miserable they were. And deep down- I was, too. My heart aches now because I hurt them. I thought I was doing it for their own good, and for the sake of other's around-- but you know what??? I was doing it because I didn't know any other way to "control" them. But now I KNOW (I KNOW- I KNOW- I KNOW- with every fiber of my being) that I was wrong. Very wrong.

(Poohmom, 6/9/03 at www.unschooling.com, message board discussion.