Help me keep this in perspective

[Planogirl]

If I was unhappy with this move-along pat, I would talk to the person who did it and explain that I don't find such contact appropriate. Then I would let it go and move on.

I certainly wouldn't call the police! That is big time overreacting IMO.

 

[NYBlue1]

If I was unhappy with this move-along pat, I would talk to the person who did it and explain that I don't find such contact appropriate. Then I would let it go and move on.

I certainly wouldn't call the police! That is big time overreacting IMO.

I am the one that suggesting calling the police and after getting the whole story I would not suggest such a thing and would do exactly as you would.

 

[Hannathy]

Who is to judge whether this is a punishment or a stay on track "swat"? I wonder if this woman is so used to smacking compliance out of her own children that she just instantly lashes out without thinking - and that is what scares me. Why is one volunteer (the OP) able to keep her group in line without resorting to this behavior and the other not?

I still can't believe that people think so little of their children that they think it's okay for other adults to strike them in any manner. This wasn't a congratulatory high five, pat on the back. This was a smack in the ***.

I have teenagers that work for me - some start at 15 years old and it is their first real working experience. I can't fathom smacking one in the butt, even jokingly, as motivation to get them moving along. It's despicable and it's a sign that an adult is incapable of being an effective leader, coach, parent, teacher, whatever if they can't make their point without resorting to being nothing but an overgrown bully.

I have volunteered for years and years - never have I ever had to resort to anything like this. I have always been able to get the kids back on track. Actually, they've never really fallen off track as the rules and the repercussions were always made crystal clear at the onset. My kids have been in very precarious places on many extreme trips they have been on and they know, at the outset, they have to be responsible and follow the rules or they will be flown out of wherever they are at my expense.

I can't get past the fact that there are parents who think it's perfectly okay for an adult to hit their own children.

I find that to be totally disturbing. In fact, I find it to be absolutely neglectful. And, I guess, in the end, it does end up becoming a spanking debate - I guess the shocker for me is that there seems to be so many more who spank their kids into submission and believe it's okay for others to do the same than those who don't. What an eye opener this thread has been for me.

Glad my parents weren't like this and I'm so thankful my children have never had to encounter this.

As "pro spanking yahoo" - That is how you referred to us on another thread isn't it? I find it disturbing that so many adults can't distinguish between a playful swat on the butt with a book or clipboard etc and a beating. I guess this is where the honor students getting expelled for having Midol (drugs) comes from. And yes I have "spanked my kids into submission" if you call one good smack on the butt when she was 18 months old to not go into the street in 15 1/2 yrs. Guess what she never went into the street again and unlike some of the other mothers on the street I didn't spend summers watching her every second and repeatedly running into the street, so I'm guilty as charged she did submit to my rule of staying in the yard.

All I have to say is what a sterile boring isolating world these kids will grow up in when adults fear every move being over analyzed and criticized let alone criminally charged for hi fives, pats on the back-because hey the back joins the butt who's to say where one starts and ends and it could be hard..., can't take your arm to guide you away from a puddle, tussle your hair, even shake your hand, that's ok they'll be too busy on their cell phones to Mom the whole time to notice.