So just what DOES constitute as child abuse?

[faeriefire78]

I'm curious about general opinion on this matter. When I was growing up I was spanked for any and all offenses. It was with this leather belt my dad used to wear, and it had a big, heavy brass buckle with the grim reaper riding a Harley on it. Depending on how mad he was, we usually got the strap on our bare bottoms, but sometimes got the buckle

Comments

Against

[corkscrewlucy]

I have to say Carrie, my father never once spanked me. He was the scariest person in the world to me when he was angry, but he never laid a finger on me. However, my mother used to spank me whenever and wherever. When she is angry now I just see her as irrational and crazy. I resent most of it too, because I was NEVER bad. Although my Dad did threaten to spank me, (lots) he never did.

Maybe it's something about the way you think of your father, but does Jacob ever punish her? Or is it just you. I think that maybe she can get what she wants from ONE of you.

Maybe you just need to lay down the law pretty heavily for a few weeks (Xmas break) to a point where she knows that no matter what day, time,situation, or place-that stuff is not gonna fly. She wants to be taken places, talked to, paid attention to. When she's not demonstrating behavior that you want her to, you don't have to freak out on her. Justlet her know firmly that she is simply not ALLOWED to behave that way, and that she must earn the things she wants. It can be a little harsh, but every parent has to do it. It's better now than it will be in five-ten years. You and Jacob need to stick together on this one.