Iowa Mom ticketed for spanking toddler

Honey · July 14th, 2008, 08:58 PM

Here are the facts: at a July 4th parade in Iowa, a young mother spanked her toddler. A police officer witnessed the spanking and wrote the mom a ticket, citing her with child abuse now, she's suing the state. Who is right? Well, that depends. On a lot of things, actually.

How hard did she hit the girl? By her own account, it was just a little swat -- in this video, from Fox News, she demonstrates, in fact, exactly what happened. By smacking the toddler. Who then throws a fit. In front of a whole bevy of cameras.

Hmm.

The legal analysts at Fox agree that the mom lacks parenting skills, but they disagree about spanking as an act of child abuse. One analyst says, over and over, that if the mom is willing to spank the toddler in a press conference to demonstrate what she did at the parade, she MUST be abusing her kids when no one is looking, and she's probably hitting them harder when the cameras are not around. Of course, that same analyst makes a big deal about the fact that this mom has three kids under four years of age, which seems kind of irrelevant. The analysts also point out that the kids are all running amok during the press conference, which does seem to point to a lack of control on the mother's part.

But does it make the spanking an act of abuse?

ParentDish

LynnieD · July 14th, 2008, 09:03 PM

Well. Ok. I lack parenting skills too because I have spanked my toddler NUMEROUS times, at least 20.

Do I do it hard? No.

Honestly, I feel like its the only way I can get her attention. Am I a bad parent then?? Perhaps. But until you've DEALT WITH IT, you have no idea. These kids can wear you down in seconds......seconds I tell you.

McJag · July 14th, 2008, 09:08 PM

I can't see the video,but it does seem to me the mother is a bit thick to repeat it for the camers!

Just Kill Me · July 14th, 2008, 09:27 PM

Hmmmm... haven't watched... I'm too busy beating my child yall and eatin cheetos...
JFC.

Rica · July 14th, 2008, 09:27 PM

*remembers the wooden spoon*
That actually worked.

Also, a 2nd cousin of mine has a boy who is now hmm 9, but last time I saw him he was 5. He was so well behaved, but that was because his father spanked him if he was a brat.

Also I remember one time he bit his mother...she bit him right back. Guess what he never did again?

Folieadeux · July 14th, 2008, 10:55 PM

I think there is a difference between a controlled smack, and an angry smack.

If this woman was visibly angry and spanked the child hard (which, I presume she would if she was angry) then I'm glad she was ticketed. You don't smack children because you are angry. The parent should remain in control. So many people belt the shit out of their kids because they can't control the first spank they lay on the child. Hitting anyone while you are angry is wrong.

Frankly she looks like a feral to me. So I am imagining she appeared angry [violent] and threatening while spanking her child. So IMO the officer was right in ticketing her.

sweetness · July 14th, 2008, 11:02 PM

I'm not able to watch the video, but imo a parent has the right to spank their child.

Doing it in public is not a good idea though.

dolem · July 14th, 2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rica

*remembers the wooden spoon*
That actually worked.

ohh....we had the wodden spoon too. Scared the crap out of me! I remember one time knowing I was going to get spanked and running up to my room to stuff my bum with socks. Obviously at that age I didn't realize my parents would have been able to tell that my bum had grown out about 3 inches from my sock padding

I think there is a time and a place for spanking. Sometimes the kid might need a little swat to let them know they need to behave. On the other hand I'm not 100% sure I'll want to spank my kids. I guess I'll have to live and learn.

Rica · July 15th, 2008, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolem

ohh....we had the wodden spoon too. Scared the crap out of me! I remember one time knowing I was going to get spanked and running up to my room to stuff my bum with socks. Obviously at that age I didn't realize my parents would have been able to tell that my bum had grown out about 3 inches from my sock padding

I think there is a time and a place for spanking. Sometimes the kid might need a little swat to let them know they need to behave. On the other hand I'm not 100% sure I'll want to spank my kids. I guess I'll have to live and learn.

sock bum!!!

And yeah, I recall many times my little brother got spanked in public (he had adhd) because he ran across the road without looking. Theres a time and place for everything

WhateverLolaWants · July 15th, 2008, 11:35 AM

My older one has been spanked about 4 times in his life...the younger once. For me, sometimes a swat on the bum is what gets through the young mind that Mummy MEANS IT when she says, "Don't run into the street." There are some serious misbehaviors that a stern 'no' a revoking of priviledge just doesn't cover

That being said, if she was willing to demonstrate the swat on her own child on TV, she's a moron and got what she deserves.

buttmunch · July 15th, 2008, 06:01 PM

Call me crazy but I will nver believe that hitting a child is right. If you hit an adult it's called assault so if you hit a kid, who is by definition smaller than you, then basically you are a bully asshole fuck head. There are lots of other ways to teadch yourkids that don'tinclude hitting them.. I think hitting is stupid.

suhani · July 16th, 2008, 11:59 AM

lol at that socks story, that is so cute

Sweetie · July 16th, 2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buttmunch

Call me crazy but I will nver believe that hitting a child is right. If you hit an adult it's called assault so if you hit a kid, who is by definition smaller than you, then basically you are a bully asshole fuck head. There are lots of other ways to teadch yourkids that don'tinclude hitting them.. I think hitting is stupid.

I would be a bully asshole fuck head then. Some children just need their asses beat.

sweetness · July 16th, 2008, 05:23 PM

^^ I have to agree with you, Sweetie (though I don't believe in literally 'beating' them

).

To me, spanking is not 'hitting' or violent at all. It is the consequence a child has to face if they choose not to mind. Kind of like: you break the law, you go to jail.

No parent enjoys spanking, but sometimes kids don't listen and have to be shown who's in charge. Time outs, taking toys away and verbal reprimands do not always work. Especially for certain kids. The beauty of it is that once they get a little taste of a swat on the butt or a switching on the backs of the legs, you rarely have to do it. They don't like it!

I would rather cause my kid a moment of temporary discomfort than to have them disobey me and wind up in trouble, hurt, or even killed. With all this said, it's been ages since I've had to discipline my kids in such a way. Can't even remember the last time. I've definitely had to threaten it on occasion though, and they typically straighten up pretty quick. The few spankings they've had made a certain impression.

By the way, I didn't believe in spanking until I became a mother.

Aella · July 16th, 2008, 05:28 PM

I feel like replying to half the threads in the news forum with a 'oh, for fuck's sake'. It certainly applies a lot.

I'm grateful to the parents who still apply reasonnable discipline to their kids, whether it's spanking or whatever works for them. They don't negate the morons with the screaming brats, but it's nice to occasionally see non-feral kids about.