I don't smack. Never have. I don't agree with the lesson it teaches - that smacking is okay, if the circmstance calls for it. Because I don't think hitting is ever okay, no matter the reason. I was hit as a child, and I don't think it taught me anything of any use, personally. I was more scared of getting caught than of upsetting my parents, and that's not the lesson I wanted to teach my kids.

My XH used to smack, and it's true, once they grow and are bigger/independant of you, the fear is lost. They used to be scared of him, but they are still scared of disappointing me. Therein lies the difference, I think. Respect lasts, fear doesn't.

And that's because I try to be what I wish them to become. It don't believe in 'do as I say, not as I do'. I try to be a good example for them, I believe it's the very best gift I can give them. I've not always been good at it, and I've made my share of mistakes, but if I expect them not to try to solve their problems with hitting, then that's the example I have to set. I will never expect them to behave in a way that I myself am not prepared to behave.

Not that I have anything against parents who smack. I am not here to tell you how to parent; you make the best choices for your family. If it works for you, who am I to say you shouldn't do something?

I think it's too simplistic to try to draw a direct cause-effect link between smacking (or lack there of) with the behaviour of teenagers today. There are too many social issues that at play here to suggest that you can stop your child from certain behaviour if you smack them as children.