“I Was Spanked and There’s Nothing Wrong with Me”

I just saw a post shared, on Facebook, that says “Why we acted right, back in the day — ‘The Belt on the Shelf’” — it’s a comic meme, but I wanted to share some important information about its message.

Many years ago, in a conversation about disciplining children, someone said: “Well, I was spanked, and there’s nothing wrong with me!”

My response to that person was: “Are you as happy as you want to be? Are your relationships loving, fulfilling, fun, and secure? Do you enjoy life? Are you happy with your finances? Are you healthy, and happy with your body? Do you feel safe? Do you have self-confidence and self-worth? Do you get on well with others? Are you kind and compassionate to yourself and others?”

There was no reply from that person, but it’s true that most people who feel that spanking is a good thing just don’t realize the effects on the brain. It’s worth looking at what’s actually happening in the background…

What Happens in the Brain When a Child is Physically Punished

If a child is spanked, it’s not about the spanking, it’s about what the child learns, unconsciously, from that experience.

Note: It doesn’t matter whether the child “deserved” the punishment or not. Even if the child…