Parents weapon of choice

[Four Cofffee]

I know nobody smacks their kids these days but when I was a kid the weapon of last resort for my Mum was 'the boiler stick' which was a stick used to stir clothes in the washing machine or whites bolier which sat behind the kitchen taps. It was about an inch thick and 2 feet long and the surfaces was all chewed up and made slightly grey/blue/purple from hot soapy water. I can picture it 40 years later.

If we misbehaved passed warnings and slaps on the legs out came the boiler stick across the legs or if you tried to run away, the back.

Was I glad when auomatic washers came in, and she switched to a garden cane (hurt more momentarily but left fewer marks!). I guess that went on until we were too big, at about 11 or 12.

When my own kids were growing up it was nothing more than a slap on the legs or arse when (so violence does breed violence?). I can't recall having to smack then passed the age of 5, as I had other sanctions (access to TV. pocket money etc) and could reason with them (and I had grown up a bit). The ultinate sanction was stopping them watching neighbours.

So, what was your parents weapon of choice to maintain discipline and at what age did they stop?

Edited by Four Cofffee on Sunday 4th April 10:21

Edited by Four Cofffee on Sunday 4th April 10:21

[davido140]

My mum used to have a horse whip on top of the kitchen cupboard, it was threatened to be brought down if we were naughty, sometimes it even got brought down and waved around a bit. Scared the crap out of me and my brother.

Never needed to be used!

My dad just had to raise his voice to have us in floods of tears and scampering for the bedroom.

Then again he was pretty scarey when we were small, when he was teaching me to ride my bike on the roads (9 ro 10?? years old) I nearly got squished by a lorry because "I didnt see it coming", so to teach me a lesson he kicked me (hard) off my bike into a ditch full of brambles, saying "did you see that coming" or something to that effect.

I never forgot.

Just telling my son that story has pretty much the same effect on him. I must have inherited my dads scary shouting as even now he's 10 I can still make him blub if I shout at him. (I dont do it for fun, he normally deserves it!)

Edited by davido140 on Sunday 4th April 10:29

[tr7v8]

My Dad had his fathers army swagger stick, so a 2-2 1/2 foot long cane with brass ferule at each end. Or his hand whcich also hurt like hell. Never did me any harm & I certainly know right from wrong

[toast boy]

I used to get a clip round the ear or a smack, can't say it did me any harm. I don't subscribe to the bullst about the negative effects of smacking kids, I was frequently a pain in the arse as a kid and was never smacked for no reason. I'm not violent in the slightest and (so far) haven't got any kind of mental scarring or whatever nonsense people reckon you get from being hit when I'd done something wrong.

[HOGEPH]

My mother used a wooden spoon.

It didn't come out very often, but once out, would be used.

That taught me about actions and consequences, and therefore, respect.

Something lacking in certain sections of society today.

[ali_kat]

The occasional slap from her hand with the threat of Dad was enough!

If Dad wasn't around, I think we'd be threatened with her slipper, but it never happened.

Never harmed either of us.

Does violence breed violence? Not in my eyes! Most of my generation were slapped. It appears they were also the start of the brain washing into this being wrong, but look at the generations since then. I don't recall children stabbing/shooting/torturing children in 'my day', and having discussed this with my parents they don't remember it either.

We did play with toy guns, bows & arrows etc. Play at being cowboys & indians, cops & robbers etc, and were violent towards each other as a result. But it was innocent violence; are the kids that are not allowed to play with a cap gun as a child trying to play with them now?

[jeff m]

It should be a brain, but sadly so many are not equipped.

Edited by jeff m on Sunday 4th April 14:21

[Animal]

I remember thieving food from my grandmother's cooking one Sunday. The wooden spoon she clouted me with broke, so she grabbed a metal one which didn't.

[MigX]

never used it on us though.

Edited by MigX on Sunday 4th April 14:40

[oldbanger]

My mother preferred laundry tongs or the carpet beater, or she would just pull your hair. She also used a garden cane a few times.

My father sometimes used a slipper or a belt, or a big bunch of work keys which he would either throw with good accuracy or hold in his fist whilst punching you.

Edited by oldbanger on Sunday 4th April 14:58

[markcjd]

My old dear once reached for the closest instrument, laid hands on a roll of cling film and took a well aimed swing.

The dent on her freezer door remained proof of how upset she was for years!

[Emsman]

An old wooden spoon. Hurt like hell.
One day, lifted a leg, and it broke against my knee. Laughed like mad, then they used a piece of curtain rail.

That really fking hurt.

[uuf361]

My mother used a stare - it was enough - I knew I'd pushed things far enough and it was best to admit defeat or disappear...............never got a smack apparently as a kid, she didn't need to

[Tonberry]

My stepfather used a stick he stirred paint with as well as a slipper and a belt.

Good times.

[sebhaque]

A deft clip round the ear would generally get me back in line. I don't understand why parents can't smack their kids anymore, it certainly kept me in check when I was younger.

Either that or the "I'm very disappointed..." bks.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Anything that was in reach. Most often a shoe, slipper, wooden spoon or the like.

Never did me any harm mind..

[drivin_me_nuts]

Guilt

[Murray993]

I never hit mine and I do encourage them to be boys, meaning we all bleed a little when we fall over but that shouldn't stop you. I use the naughty step (although I have an apartment so the front door has to do) and my voice. Today they wouldn't get in the car as they wanted to play in the car park, so I shouted. Its an underground car park, I sounded like godzilla, even I got in quick...

[essexplumber]

A catholic priest?

[Snoggledog]

Mum used the back of her hand.
Dad used a leather soled slipper or his thumb stick.

Neither were used often. The threat was enough.