Begging forgiveness in advance here because I'd like to point out that wooden spoons, paddles, belts, switches etc used as instruments to inflict punishment are not laughable to me. Sorry. I understand the light hearted dialogue and the meaning for sharing, but my experience still leaves me with such emotional pain and I can't find one moment of laughter given that my mother could not find any possible way to discipline without inflicting horrible pain because hurting us (her children) was the only thing she knew to do.
Every evening we were lined up naked following an evening bath, told to bend over the claw foot tub and we were spanked irregardless of the day's actions or infractions. It was an every day occurrence. If it wasn't the wooden spoon, it was a belt...or we were told to go outside and cut a switch, "and it better be a good one or I'll spank you twice and you'll realize that I mean business." And she did. Over and over again.
Our punishments were always on naked skin with the dreaded spoon, switch or belt. We learned early on that despite trying to live like kids do, my mother insisted on perfection and nothing less would be accepted.
When I was in college, my grandmother told me (while she was dying) that she was so proud of me and my accomplishments. She went on to say that she feared for years that my mother would go too far and she cried of embarrassment and humiliation for not interfering when she had the opportunity. She made me promise that I would never discipline my children as my mother had done to us.
Fast forward, I had just one child and I can promise this, I never laid a hand or other instrument on my child, never struck, and never popped my child. Never.
I'm not saying I was perfect nor was raising an only child easy either. I simply found other ways to deal with dosing discipline. I lived in an abusive environment at a time when children did not have rights. I chose to stop the cycle.
Just my experience.
I want to give you a hug and say I am sorry for what you went thru. My parents were so loving and patient, kind, I really can not imagine how it would be to endure what you describe. They did spank us. Daddy and Momma both, and I didn't get very many but each one I got hurt me mentally more than physically, for being a brat and giving cause for discipline. They never spanked too hard or left a mark, and in my opinion just right. I don't have 1 single bad memory of my folks, I was so blessed. Now they are gone, I miss them so much. Sometimes we siblings get to talking about those times, gettin the switch, and it is fond memories for us, we laugh till we hurt.
I think it's good to share things, just like you did. I've got scars, heck we all do from one thing or other. Heck this Jodi girl has reminded me of someone in my past, not nearly to her extreme obviously, I wouldn't be here. But we need to laugh at life, and if we eliminated every possible thing that might bring up bad memories for someone I guess we'd never say much. I don't mean to offend, please understand I don't.
I just think it's cool....not trying to advertise something but most people's minds are in the gutter a lot (like mine).
