An outraged mum has sparked a debate about spanking children after she spotted a fellow mother giving her own child a few smacks on the bottom outside a Woolworths store.
The mum posted about the incident on Facebook, saying she was ‘absolutely raging’ when she saw the child getting hit.
‘So I saw a mum hit her child (looked around two years old) outside Woolies today, smacked her on the bottom three times really hard,’ she wrote.
‘I was absolutely raging, but wasn’t sure if I should say something. I felt so bad for the child that the mum was so weak and had to hit her rather than discipline her with words.’
An outraged mum has sparked a debate about spanking children after she spotted a fellow mother giving her own child a few smacks on the bum outside a Woolworths
The mum posted about the incident on Facebook, saying she was ‘absolutely raging’ when she saw the child getting hit (file photo)
The mum then asked what others thought about the incident, saying she knew it would stir up some ‘healthy debate’ and that she wanted to ‘hear both sides’
The mum said the little girl then broke down into tears.
‘I’m sure there are worse parents out there but any abuse isn’t good,’ she added.
The mum then asked what others thought about the incident, saying she knew it would stir up some ‘healthy debate’ and that she wanted to ‘hear both sides’.
Only one mum who commented on the post said it was likely that she would intervene, saying she thought it also might be a teaching opportunity for parents.
‘We would likely intervene without even thinking about it,’ she wrote.
‘I do wonder whether some people never get the chance to learn better methods because everyone feels so awkward about saying anything.’
Only one mum who commented on the post said it was likely that she would intervene, saying she thought it also might be a teaching opportunity for parents (file photo)
But a number of mothers said they wouldn’t intervene because they did not think three smacks on the bum was the equivalent of abuse
But a number of mothers said they wouldn’t intervene because they did not think three smacks on the bum was the equivalent of abuse.
‘If I saw someone assaulting their child then I’d intervene in a heartbeat and it wouldn’t be quite or subtle,’ one commenter wrote.
A few mums admitted to smacking their own children recently and said they didn’t think it made them ‘an abusive parent’ (file photo)
‘If you have to question whether or not to step in I’d say it wasn’t abuse.’
Another mum said that although she thought three smacks were ‘overboard’, she also wouldn’t ‘go as far as saying abuse’.
‘I don’t think it is wrong for a child to have the odd smack on the bum for bad behaviour (I am sure I am going to get judged for that comment),’ she added.
A few mums even admitted to smacking their own children recently and said they didn’t think it made them ‘an abusive parent’.
‘A nice smack on the bum won’t hurt anyone,’ one mother wrote.
‘I still smack my kids and will continue to do so until they are big,’ she added, including the emoji that is laughing so hard it is in tears.
‘In my books that’s not abuse! Firstly on the bum is the only part I smack them and if the baby was two he/she would have had a nappy I’m sure the baby was fine.’
‘If you would have approached me you would have gotten a mouthful for me.’
Another mum admitted to recently smacking her four-year-old for the ‘second time in his life’.
Others mothers said it was simply not their place to step in or judge a mother they didn’t even know and that it was always better to ‘mind your own business)’
‘You feel bad instantly but it doesn’t mean I abuse my child all the time!’ she added.
Others mothers said it was simply not their place to step in or judge a mother they didn’t even know.
‘I think you have no idea what kind of day she has had, what the child did, or what she is going through personally,’ one mum wrote.
‘And so I don’t think you really have the right to say something or to judge her for that matter.’
Another mum agreed, saying mums had ‘enough on their plates’ without their every move being judged by strangers.
‘Just because you don’t agree with something doesn’t mean you’re right nor does it mean you should push your opinions on others,’ she wrote.
‘I’d try minding your own business and worrying about your own child.’