oh...my...god

It isn't too often that I read something about parenting that leaves my mouth hanging open in horror, but this column did.

This woman is very, very angry...at herself, at her children, at life...

The column is about how beating her kids...oh, wait, she actually refers to it as "wailing the tar out of" them is not abuse. It's very defensive in tone -- she clearly knows what she's doing is wrong but apparently can't figure out any workable alternatives.

An excerpt:

"Is it abusive to publicly spank your child, hard, after the third time she kicks you in the shins?

It was one Sunday at Ryan's in Oak Ridge. We had just come from the baptism of my oldest daughter and were standing in line, waiting to order. My then 4-year-old daughter, Sarah, out of the blue kicks me in the shin with one of her beautiful, shiny patent leather shoes.

Rubbing my shin, I said "Don't do that, honey." She responded by kicking me again. I gave her a scowl and whispered through clenched teeth, "Stop that noooooow." Now, I don't know how little minds work, but for whatever reason she kicked me a third time.

Without thinking I scooped her up, draped her over my left forearm and wailed the tar out of her. I remember looking up to see the face of the woman behind us in line. She gave me the disapproving, incredulous "raised eyebrow" look and muttered something about "child abuse" under her breath.

I was hurt, crushed at the woman's obvious disapproval of my actions. So, I calmly sat Sarah back on her feet and told her "Sarah, honey, why don't you go kick that nice lady in the shins, so Mommy can see what she does." As Sarah headed off to do as she was told, my husband intervened, taking a place in line between me and the woman, who shoved her husband in front of her in self defense."