Like many of my generation getting a smack from mum and dad was part of growing up in the 60s and 70s.
So was rampant racism and casual sexism. Not only that, these were views celebrated nightly on the telly in comedies deemed fit for family viewing.
Those particular aspects of society are, thankfully, long gone, cherished now only by the occasional right-wing looney tune.
We have moved on, grown up a bit, seen some sense – except when it comes to hitting our children.
So I, for one, am right behind the Green MSP John Finnie’s drive to ban the smacking of children.
Sure, there are those who got a clip round the ear or a smacked behind would argue it did us no harm. But it doesn’t make it right.
Seriously. Think about it for a second. A grown adult thumping a child. In what way is that acceptable? Especially when the one inflicting the pain is a person who is supposed to love and protect you.
Oh right. The discipline bit. Making sure they know right from wrong and how to behave properly.
So what lesson does smacking teach? That it’s okay to lift your hands to someone if they do something wrong?
Or, and sadly it happens all too often, you can hit someone if they just annoy you.
There will be those who say parents have a right to choose how to chastise. But what about the right of a child not to be assaulted?
Let’s be quite frank here. Smacking is lazy parenting.
There are countless other options available to keep kids on the straight and narrow – like talking to them. A “chat” is far more effective than a cuff.
Try taking their screens away and see how quickly they come to heel.
There is always a way to get your point across and usually in a way that will last longer than a smack.
Of course, it can be time consuming, require a bit of thought and determination to see it through. It’s not easy.
But then, who said being a parent was going to be easy?
It’s a huge responsibility to bring a life into the world, helping to shape the child who will become the adult, seeing them grow into decent people.
It’s a tough task that requires patience, caring and love.
Where, in that equation, does smacking a little person sit?
This article originally appeared on the Evening Express website. For more information, read about our new combined website.
