Mother Punished for Spanking Daughter

Nanner

This woman lost custody (temporarily) of her daughter for spanking her.  What do you think of it? 

https://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpps/news/texas/texas-mother-spanking-6-17-2011_13735817?obref=obinsite

SigmundsGirl

I am not against spanking when it is for an appropriate age (probably 3 and over) and doesn't cross the line to beating. I have to wonder how hard the child was spanked to leave red marks on the child's rear and for long enough that the grandmother noticed it when changing her. That doesn't sound like the swat on the rear we used to get growing up. If my mom was very upset with us, she would wait until she wasn't angry to give us the spanking, but we knew it was coming and why we were getting it. I don't think my dad ever spanked us, but then again he wasn't the stay-at-home parent.

I think the quote from the judge was lame.

KelleyA

If her bottom was still red when she got to the hospital then she was clearly spanked too hard... the article doesn't note that.  I'm guessing though that there was enough evidence of harsh spanking to give her 5 years probation.  

It sounds like she got unlucky too and had a judge that was very conservative.  This will go to appeals and will cost the state more money...because she spanked.  It would seem that there's way more to this story than this short article includes, perhaps there's way more backstory on neglect/abuse and it was the only way the grandmother/CPS could get the authorities to pay attention and file a case against her and then they used the other stuff as fuel against her for this case.  In reality they hurt the mother, she now has a charge against her and has to file it on every single job application, then she has to explain it and it can be used against her in the interview process.  That equates to potential loss of job/income and hurts the kids more in the long run than a spanking...assuming the spanking was an isolated incident.  

That being said, I don't spank my kids.  I used to, but I was spanking out of anger and not because it was the most effective way to discipline Amelia.  We realized that it wasn't effective in disciplining her and now we use other methods.  Perhaps a parenting class or two would be a better mandate for this mother as she might need maturity and assistance in that area so she can be a better mother. Basically the courts seem to have done to her what she did to her child...a slap on the bottom...but didn't actually help or make change.  

kat.in.the.hat

spanking shouldn't leave red marks that are there long enough for someone else to notice - that is beating, not spanking.

and given that she doesn't have custody of her other children, there's more to this story than just a simple, isolated  spanking

jeauxlovesangel@hotmail.com

I work for CPS- No mom is going to loose custody for just spanking a child- you are well with in your rights to spank.  You can not leave marks and need to hit in non vital body parts.  I would not use a belt either because kids move and you can not be in control to stop if they moved.  Ive seen lots of belts in the face- so sad.   Even if this mom did leave marks most judges let it go this first time with a simple parenting class.  For a parent to loose custody they have to have injured that kid pretty bad and most likely this is not the first time. Most of the time there are other risk factors in the home that doesn't get reported in the media.