I was smacked as a child, and I do on the odd occasion smack Annabelle, I feel guilty after but on some ocassions it has been my only option. Like for instance when she had an unhealthy obsession with the cooker door, I tried everything to deter her, and in the end a loud no and a smack on her nappied behind did the trick. Another time I was chaning Eryn and Annabelle came up to her and hit her in the face, I had a baby doing a poo on my lap so I had no other choice but to punish her with a light slap. I must admit that I prefer the 'time out' method, but sometimes it is not just possible, and there is no way I will let bad behaviour go unpunished, I don't think my smacking of Annabelle has done any long term damage and it has not turned her into a violent child, quite the opposite.

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