S is for Spank

I was over-spanked as a child. Too hard, too often, too long in duration, and until I was 14 years old. I love my parents very much and know they were doing what they believed to be best, but ultimately, it was really traumatic for me.

When Levi was about 6 weeks old, one of our friends in Boulder jokingly said "Kids are like pinatas, you have to beat them until something good comes out." I wonder what kind of look I must of shot at him :) I really didn't want to spank Levi at all. I did not think that I would be able to spank in a way that was Godly. I thought that I would be angry and violent. I hated the idea of "loosing it" with my kids and repeating the cycle that I grew up with. What better way to avoid that scenario, than to avoid spankings all together?

At about the time Levi was 15 or 16 months, it became pretty clear that our little "chats" were not working. Babies cannot reason, it turns out :) I learned that in Developmental Psychology, but it didn't keep me from trying. Levi wanted to run in the street and thought this was a game, wouldn't hold my hand in parking lots, etc. His lack of obedience was becoming a safety hazard. And it made my life more difficult as well. I would just wait until nap time to unload the dishwasher, because I didn't want to "fight" with him about leaving the silverware alone.

It was clear that we needed to change something. So, with two little swats on his upper thigh, we started disciplining. He is not the perfect child or anything (he's 2!), but his behavior has changed big time. He comes when we call. If he takes a toy away from Max, he will give it back quickly with a simple verbal rebuke.

I still don't feel quite right about using my hand or using a wooden spoon, and haven't really known what to do about that. Recently, one of my friends showed me the spanking tool that she and her husband use on their daughter. It is 8.75 inches long and made of a canvass-like material. It looks like an over-sized tongue depressor and causes a mild sting. I ordered four :)

They are about five dollars each and can be ordered by mail from:

Surely Goodness Company
P.O. Box 1115
Mesa, AZ 85211

Just wanted to share this find...in case any of you are in the same predicament with not wanting to use your hand or a wooden spoon. Also, I have found the book, "Raising Godly Tomatoes" helpful. She's a little strict for me, but it's still been a worth-while read. There are not a lot of books out there that specifically address toddlers. Let me know what you think or of anything that has worked for you. Thanks for reading :)