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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mercurius" data-source="post: 4357628" data-attributes="member: 59082">Jack99, a quick question: Do you have children? I know that since having a child of my own, my perspective on what is "good parenting" has changed and that I am much less judgmental about other parents. Again, this is not to say that I condone spanking or yelling at your child, but I do understand it because children can be very, very frustrating (they are cross-cultural barbarians, after all, if very endearing ones). The nature of a child is, in many ways, to drive their parents crazy. As any parent will attest, it is the hardest--but most rewarding--job in the world.Have I caused physical pain to my child? Yes, not "major pain" and not really intentionally, but I've yanked her by the arm or lightly slapped her arm. I am certainly not proud of it and if I could I would take those instances back, but I think we need to recognize that there is a wide spectrum, from gentleness to actual abuse, and to call any kind of physicality abuse--which is the impression you are giving--seems a bit harsh and perhaps not in touch with the reality of what parenting is like.</blockquote>