I've smacked & I'm not proud! I think there are other ways to discipline a child, & I don't believe smacking works. For me it was a way to relieve MY tension, & thats wrong. I was smacked as a child, I would say it was worse than that, most of the time I got a belt round the head, one time the belt, another time I remember being kicked round the kitchen floor, sounds awful now & I would never treat my children in that way. I have to add that I was a wayward child! i do agree that if a child does something dangerous, like run out on the road, I would slap the leg, rather that than next time a car hits him. I think you have to do it for the right reasons, not because your patience has run out. I now send Liam to his room if he's naughty, we both get a break & chance to calm down