General Discussion

The actual term means that one does not use the rod, i.e.: 'sparing' it, while spoiling the child with praise and other things in a positive approach to their discipline.

It did not mean to beat the hell out of a child over not buttoning their shirts correctly. That came when our society decided that it was okay to injure a child in the name of 'raising them right'.

Disgusting.

I feel you, C. My father was the same way. Swung first and inquired later. He once sliced my leg open with a flyswatter because I did not come into the house fast enough. I was 5. My mother was not physical in that way, but she would just call my father whenever she wanted one of us punished, so she was no better as far as I was concerned, since she knew what he would do and did not care, if not being actively content with the situation.