Would You Smack Someone Else's Child?

[icyfroth]

This topic came up on the Yumi and Sami Breakfast Show this morning. Usually I can't stand listenening to them and switch to another station after the mystery voices, but I found this interesting:

Yumi throws an Easter birthday party for her daughter whose birthday falls just before.

She invites a heap of kids. Hides heaps of easter eggs in the park opposite and on a signal, lets the kids loose to hunt for them.

This kid, whose bigger than the rest, races out before the signal and grabs all the eggs before any of the other kids can get them.

This happens several times. Yumi puts on her scary face, reprimands him, but he still does it. His parents can't control him either.

Yumi feels like giving him a smack.

Sami says no way, you can't do that.

Yumi says if there was an invisible bubble and she could've smacked him without any repercussions, she would have.

They asked for listeners to call in with their opinions.

Most said no way, one said yes, one said Yumi should have asked the parents to take action or take their child home.

I wouldn't smack someone else's child.

What would you have done?

[*mrgrizz*]

no i wouldn't smack

but there are a few i wouldn't mind gagging, tying up and put in a closet for a few hours.:^O

i used to put my nephew in the rubbish bin when he got lippy

[the_bob_delusion]

I would like to smack the parents.

[crystal**flake]

Hands off other peoples kids I reckon, I barely smacked my own.

[nonny_muss]

I would like to smack the parents.

:^O:^O:^O

[aspie*mum]

My ex-fiance smacked my child once.

Once only.

And then he was an ex-fiance.

Smacking is NEVER ok.

I would never smack someone else's child, as I would never smack my own.

There is always another better option.

Smacking is simply an adult's way of exerting control in an abusive manner because they are not intelligent / patient / caring enough to find another, better way.

[i-need-a-martini]

I've never smacked my own children so I would never smack another.

But I have been quite strong in the way I have reprimanded other peoples children. I have put my sisters kids and some friends kids in the naughty corner when they misbehave.

And once at a wedding, a distant relatives child kicked me cause I told him to stop doing something annoying. I ignored the first kick but then he kicked me again. So I grabbed him, put him on my lap and held his arms and legs straight-jacket like while he screamed to get down. I had a shawl and I wrapped that around him to keep him 'tied down'. I told him I would let him go after he apologised. He refused and spat at me. So I kept him there screaming and kicking for ages until he finally calmed down. His parents were sitting at the next table and I could see they were peeved and on the verge of telling me off but I wasn't prepared to let their kid go until they were prepared to deal with him.

Sometimes you've just gotta do what's necessary.

[katydidthat]

Aspie, I'd like to ask what you would have done in my situation ... 

[the_bob_delusion]

I've never smacked my own children so I would never smack another.

But I have been quite strong in the way I have reprimanded other peoples children. I have put my sisters kids and some friends kids in the naughty corner when they misbehave.

And once at a wedding, a distant relatives child kicked me cause I told him to stop doing something annoying. I ignored the first kick but then he kicked me again. So I grabbed him, put him on my lap and held his arms and legs straight-jacket like while he screamed to get down. I had a shawl and I wrapped that around him to keep him 'tied down'. I told him I would let him go after he apologised. He refused and spat at me. So I kept him there screaming and kicking for ages until he finally calmed down. His parents were sitting at the next table and I could see they were peeved and on the verge of telling me off but I wasn't prepared to let their kid go until they were prepared to deal with him.

Sometimes you've just gotta do what's necessary.

You're using force, no different from smacking. 

[aspie*mum]

katydidthat - I wouldn't have smacked.  But I can understand exactly why you were driven to it.  But it's not something that I feel is EVER ok or needed.

I would have (and yes, been frustrated, hormonal etc) held the hand or the child.  I would have sat down with the child (and yes, the other children) and explained my position (in age appropriate terms).  And if I genuinely felt unable to safely get the kids back home due to one's behaviour I would have gotten out my phone and called for backup.  

I wouldn't have smacked, but I can understand why you did.

Don't think I haven't been tempted, but, there is always another better option.

Also I'm a teacher.  If I start smacking kids I will go to jail.

[*pepe]

martini what you did sounds like overkill - especially at a wedding!

you restrained the kid - no wonder he fought against you.

and poor effort on the parent's behalf - they should have intervened from the moment you took it upon yourself to tell their kid off.