Why Spanking Doesn't Work
Corporal punishment is about satisfying your own anger and fear, not about teaching children.
The situation
She was standing there slapping her arm with a look that said, “I’m hitting myself but it doesn’t hurt. See? See? See?!?” I was not amused. Then, as if on cue, she laid on the ground, face down and cried, fakely.
Sympathy garnering at its finest.
You can’t beat understanding into a child like you can fear
Usually, I walk away. Unless she really gets angry and becomes a potential danger to herself. Often tripping over things or throwing herself at dangerous objects. The mini manipulator garners my sympathy. I pick her up to make sure she’s alright; it’s a constant reminder of who’s actually in control.
Before this particular episode, she’d slapped me in the face because I’d taken away a crayon that she was eating. Her immediate rage and violent outburst followed.
After the slap, she put on her “O face," surprising herself at smacking me. I shout and briefly entertain the thought of a spanking, but that’s not my style. I look at her and repeat my mantra, “Hitting hurts."
She slaps me again. I give her the evil eye, put her down, and walk away. Which brings us back to…
