To smack or not to smack

[Calluna]

I do smack. I hate it. But sometimes when I've asked him a number of times not to do something, he refuses to stop, and I've exhausted every other avenue to no avail, yes, I've smacked him.

I was smacked as a child and have to make a concious, concerted effort to not smack my son.

I am trying very hard to work on this, and getting better.


Have you tried validating your LO's feelings? "I can see you are angry/sad/upset because x, we can't do x because ... We can do y instead" Give him/her a minute to process it, if s/he continues repeat it. Staying calm and comforting them at the same time. This works very well here. 99% of the time he calms down and it's fine.

"When they are upset and angry is when they need our love the most." Is something I am constantly reminding myself of.