The case against smacking
As a mother of two young children, I can confidently say that there have been times that I have been pushed to the brink of insanity.
Nevertheless, I find it hard to condone a parenting approach that inflicts physical pain on a child.
We teach our children to resolve conflicts with their friends by using "their words", so how then can we justify smacking as a means to resolve our conflict with them?
It is our job to model for them the appropriate behaviour society expects of us.
It is our job to show love and support - parenting in a manner that is firm and consistent without inflicting physical violence.
Smacking is a subjective form of violence.
Where do you draw the line between physical abuse and a smack? Who decides the level of pain a child must be experiencing for it to be abuse?
It pains me when I see children hit in any way shape of form.
But I can understand how purely frustrating children can be.
If we could all support one another and work as a community to raise our children in a loving environment then perhaps will we see parenting methods such as smacking become a thing of the past.
Emily Eldridge is a Scarborough mother of two
