[Tenacious 1]

ever, if I had a case of “deliberately breaking a toy” from a 7-year-old (which I’m sure I have!), I’d refuse to replace the toy and select several others to give to the poor. Longer-term impact than a spanking, AND gets some clutter out of the house.

I will give the benefit of the doubt to the father on this day. But I bet the intentional breaking of the toy was likely the last straw in a string of appalling behavior. As a kid, I got the belt for one of two reasons. Either one act was so horrifically heinous and obviously I knew better than (like throwing eggs at passing cars or lawn darts on the roof of the house). Or there was a series of misdeeds that required an attitude adjustment. One way or another, three wacks of a belt on ass usually get a kids attention. Welts or not, the kid will be just fine. This is no abuse.

[CindyDawg]

Parents should be in agreement on discipline whatever the type, and talk privately about differences IMO. If the father was angry or out of control why didn’t she stop him?

[Tax-chick]

... there was a series of misdeeds that required an attitude adjustment.

Good point.

One way or another, three wacks of a belt on ass usually get a kids attention. Welts or not, the kid will be just fine. This is no abuse.

I agree.