[Maceman]

Flaming probably is not necessary here but, 4 years old? Keep your chin up, you haven't even started your descent into the abyss yet.

Maybe not. But I'm betting that as my daughter grows older, she will require more sophisticated modes of discipline than can be delivered by a smacking hand or a belt strap.

[Let's Roll]

You are dealing with one child and a girl - very narrow study. Also she may or may not be as wonderful as you think she is. The final judgment on that is society's. If I had the proverbial nickel for the times I've seen some child behaving monstrously while the doting parents smiled serenely, well you know the rest.

I spanked, not beat, my children when they were small and when they reached an age of more rationality between 6-10 (varies with the child), began taking privileges away. Grounding a 3 year old doesn't make much of an impression.