There is a difference between a spanking and a beating.
Yep. Given a choice between swatting my child on the bottom to make her understand that Mommy means what she says and having my child run into the street and get hit by a car I’ll pick the spanking.
Is spanking always o.k.? A lot depends on the child. Sometimes a couple of swats on the bottom for severe misbehavior or disobedience is all that is needed. Sometimes you as a parent can tell it is not doing any good. At that point you really can’t keep spanking till you wear your arm out. It is better then to figure out an effective means of discipline or punishment.
As the child grows older and is more able to understand the why of Mommy and Daddy’s rules the spankings as a form of punishment or discipline should decrease. But a quick swat or two on a well padded bottom is not going to lead a child to the life of a hellion.
Children do know when their parents love them and as long as the hugs and affirmation come more often than spankings or other punishment, all will be fine.