In an ideal world we would all be able to calmly deal with our children and give respectful discipline and have it work on every occasion. In an ideal world our children would all be perfectly behaved at the shops (or other public venues).

We are none of us perfect. I don't like to see parents smacking their kids or calling them names - I do find it distressing. But I can't in all honesty say I have never done it. I am mindful most times of how I speak to my kids, and I avoid smacking because in most cases I don't believe it works as a form of discipline. But that doesn't mean I have never done these things.

So I try not to judge, because its hard to know the circumstances.