Mothers

My sister Clare and I were always squabbling as children. It drove our mum to despair and two well-smacked bottoms were frequently the result. As the elder by 18 months, … Read more

I grew up in the late 50s and early 60s, when girls always wore skirts and dresses, and lots of crinolines. One time, my sister took one of my favourite … Read more

My siblings and I were spanked frequently as children. We were usually sent to our parents’ bedroom to await our punishment while Mama went out to cut a fresh switch. … Read more

When I was six, my youngest brother was born. I loved babies, so I stood by and helped either my mother or nanny with his care all through his infancy. … Read more

My friend Anna had an Uncle Jonathan, who lived with her and her father. Anna’s parents were divorced, which was rare in my generation and circles. The three of them … Read more

In our house, mom used the belt for the more serious offences committed by my siblings and I. While I received plenty of whippings in my childhood, I can remember … Read more

“I said no!” my mother yelled as she pulled my little hand out of the enormous plant and gave it a sharp slap. I was four years old at the … Read more

Even growing up in the 90s, spanking was far more common than you might think. Most of the kids I knew got their bottoms warmed when they pushed their parents … Read more

My mother was not a pet lover, and my brother Jeff and I wanted a pet so badly that we would have done just about anything. Each time we talked … Read more

My brother and I had a typical sibling relationship growing up – in other words, we often fought like cat and dog. Although I was two years younger than my … Read more

My mother believed in firm and strict discipline. At first, she seemed to prefer the ‘instant response’ style of immediately dealing with any inappropriate behaviour, naughtiness, disrespect etc. But later … Read more

This extract from The American Home (now Better Homes and Gardens) of April 1948 was kindly sent to us by an anonymous contributor. I Believe Children Should Be Spanked! by … Read more

I was not used to being spanked when I was a young kid. On those rare occasions, my mother would grab my arm and place one or two mild swats … Read more

Mom was having a tea at 3.30 that spring afternoon. The cook had made wonderful cookies for the occasion and placed them on covered platters in the pantry. The cook … Read more

Mom was rather strict. She was a firm believer in ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’. Her chosen instrument of punishment was the belt – it was kept hanging … Read more

I had just turned seven and was playing at the park with some friends. Our mothers were sitting on benches a few hundred yards away, where they could see us … Read more

Several summers ago. my siblings and I were at our subdivision pool, swimming. At the time, we were aged 10 to 14. Mom had told us to be home no … Read more

The following is an extract from Shirley Temple-Black’s out-of-print autobiography, Child Star. That afternoon, Mother had summoned me into the front hall, where I was confronted by a clot of … Read more

I grew up at a time, and on a street, where corporal discipline was a given. Spanking was the accepted means of correction from toddlerhood to mid-teens. The attached ‘rowhouses’ … Read more

I wanted to share this account of a spanking that I had when I was about 11, I think. Regular spankings, or ‘smacked bottoms’, were given by my mother, usually … Read more

As children, my sister and I were spanked regularly if we misbehaved. One warning – after that we got the paddle or switch, whichever was handy. After that, we had … Read more

Growing up in the Midwest, my sister and I were raised by a strict but loving mother. When I was very young, spankings tended to be quick – a few … Read more

As a child of the 1970s, I was the product of many spankings. Although I wasn’t a bad kid, my bottom felt the sting of a hand or hairbrush at … Read more

This happened when I was nine years old, back in the mid-90s. By this time in my life, I guess I was starting to assert my individuality a little bit. … Read more

The following is a letter published in the New York Times Magazine of April 22, 1945. Parent and ChildTo the Editor: I wish to raise my voice in protest against … Read more

My mother was an old-fashioned lady of British descent, and a strict disciplinarian. She did not take lightly her perceived obligation to see to the proper and moral upbringing of … Read more

Being from a military family, my mother used to shop at the commissary about once a month and really stock up on the groceries. It was about an hour drive … Read more