Others

I was staying with my great aunt after my parents left for France. She was an old, sour woman with no tolerance for disobedience. I was only 10 at the … Read more

When I was about seven years old, I stayed at my friend’s place for two weeks. My friend, Sue, wet the bed and her mum flogged her with the strap, … Read more

One summer afternoon, when I was a skinny boy of 15, I took my sister Anne (who was 13 at the time) to one of our secret hideouts in the … Read more

When I was 10 years old, I stole a half pack of cigarettes from my mother. I walked to the yard of our neighbour, Miss Foley, and hid behind her … Read more

When I was nine, my sister and went to live with my second cousin while my mother was going through some hard times. Debbie believed wholeheartedly in discipline and would … Read more

This is my first story about a childhood in which I was punished frequently, but always lovingly and fairly. This was a regular day when I was out playing. I … Read more

The following is an exchange between two contributors to the long-defunct Maman mailing list, regarding that formidable figure, the prep school matron… Ian: Sean, You left me wondering if we had … Read more

In the late 1950s until the early 1960s, we lived in Uganda. We were not wealthy people and so while we lived in Scotland, we certainly never had any household … Read more

My most memorable spanking was when I was 13. I lived alone with my mother and she would never dare to do it to me. One afternoon, some girls and … Read more

My sister and I are now in our early 30s. We grew up during a time when corporal punishment was still an approved form of discipline. We have vague memories … Read more

When I was between 8 and 10 years old, I had a babysitter called Mrs Kent. She sat many children in my neighbourhood – working parents used her because she … Read more

When I was about nine or 10, my parents left for a night and got us a babysitter named Erica. She seemed to think that anything I did was insulting … Read more

I grew up from grade school to high school with my good friend Marty. Marty was the class clown at school, but at home his mother Susan was a strict … Read more

Some 50 years ago, when I was in the second grade, about the middle of the morning I had a mild tummy ache. I went and told the teacher and … Read more

My family always believed in corporal punishment but the most memorable punishment I ever received occurred at my Aunt Mary’s house when I had just turned 16. Aunt Mary had … Read more

At the age of 17, in the early 60s, I was frequently earning money as a babysitter. There was one family which I doubt I will ever forget. There were … Read more

When I was about seven, my parents went on a trip to see my grandma in Glasgow (we lived in Leeds), so I was sent to my Aunt Jenny’s house … Read more

While I was spanked numerous times as a child, this one stands out as perhaps the most unusual incident. I was 10 years old and spending the night at my … Read more

As a lad who grew up in the early 60s in Stoke-on-Trent, England, I was no stranger to the odd swipe across the face or backside etc. However, one of … Read more

When I was a child, I was a bit of a softy. If I was to be spanked, I would be in tears before the punishment was administered. I lived … Read more

In my day and age, if a child was naughty, the inevitable response from an adult was: “Somebody is asking for a smacked bottom” – which of course was very … Read more

I grew up in the 50s on a small Mediterranean island off the Italian mainland, where my father was “something in intelligence”. My two sisters (one older and one younger) … Read more

Betty was our matriarch; at 13, I think, a year older than me. We used to go for long, innocent walks on Sunday mornings. When I say innocent, I mean … Read more