[email protected]

In a message dated 4/11/03 2:52:29 PM Central Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:

<<
I am sick and tired of defending myself. It is either that you truly do not
understand - in which case it is a shame, or you just don't WANT to
understand in which case it is a shame. >>

I think everyone understands perfectly well Yoki.
I used to spank also.
My swats were not just a light tap to the hand, I regretted it every time I
did it. It's STILL something I battle...it's my foul temper and the way I was
raised rearing it's ugly head every so often. Very hard to undo.
BUT, at this list, you aren't going to find support for disrespect of
children on ANY level.
Just the way we speak can be disrespectful.
A light swat on the hands, while not nearly the type of physical harm that
we've talked about, is totally disrespectful to the child.
It doesn't make anyone a lousy parent.
I would bet you are a better parent than I am in MANY ways.
I have a hot temper.....it's tough to deal with myself some days.
But there can be no defense of anything disrespecting children....that would
be hypocritical.
It's not a pissing contest to one up each other.
We're all better or worse at different things and one thing I know quite
confidently, that every mother here (or father) is DEEPLY interested in their
childrens well being and a loving parent.
Closing your mind off to learning new ideas is dangerous. Disagree all you
want, but the families here have found ways to live happily with children
without hitting them. Aren't you even curious about that?

Ren
"The sun is shining--the sun is shining. That is the magic. The flowers are
growing--the roots are stirring. That is the magic. Being alive is the
magic--being strong is the magic The magic is in me--the magic is in
me....It's in every one of us."

----Frances Hodgson Burnett