Replies to '04/17 Dangerous Kids'

My guess is these kids are suffering from some kind of mental illness not a lack of physical abuse by their parents.

You can create monsters if all you do it whack your kid every time then get out of line.  Discipline happens when people are calm not when they are angry.  Discipline requires the child to take responsibility for their actions.  When you hit your kids you’re taking the responsibility.  Discipline takes time and follow through.  Most parents don't want to take the time to use discipline so the whack the kid walk away and the kid learns and gains nothing.  Discipline requires a parent to empower their kids to do it right the next time.  It uplifts not degrades.  If you use fear and shame to get your kids to behave you are lazy and taking the easy way out.  These are short term solutions and don't create people that are driven to do their best all the time.  You can be a total authoritarian and never discipline your kids.  If you need to whack your kids to get them to behave you are doing something very wrong.  Discipline is teaching self control and making good choices out of control frustrated parents are not good teachers.