“... hitting older children is wrong”.
I tried to tell my six foot one, 200 hundred pound son that I would put him over my knee.... he laughed! (I was joking, of course). You are absolutely correct about not spanking if you are angry. It should be done when a parent has a calm mind. I NEVER punished them if they were sick, needed a nap, or were hungry. I personally believe spanking, if done on a rare occasion, accomplishes way more than a parent who hits a child all the time.
I personally believe spanking, if done on a rare occasion, accomplishes way more than a parent who hits a child all the time.
You are smart. You first think of the kind of person you want to “grow” from your treatment of the child, and plan accordingly. Rough, insensitive treatment breeds ugly people and we all know too many bastards in this world.
But cautious spankings of preschoolers can be defended to them later as an adult: I spanked you on the tush when you put my glasses in the toilet; when you ran toward the street, when you spit on your playmate - etc.