Image: Flickr/Tom Conger

“Never raise your hand to your children; it leaves your midsection unprotected.” (Robert Orben)

Regardless of how you feel about spanking children, everyone must acknowledge that physical force can only take you so far. There will come a day — before you’re ready for it — when your child gets too big for you to physically dominate. And then what?

Furthermore, most parents who do spank don’t enjoy it. They often wonder, however, if there’s a viable alternative.

Obviously, good parents are responsible to set clear guidelines and boundaries, setting logical consequences, and then enforcing those consequences when necessary. Consider, though, how the relationship may be built when the consequences — not your physique — does the talking. This positions you beside your child as you walk with them through their choices. Rather than instilling fear, you can now inspire respect. And that’s something that — no matter how large your child may get — he will never outgrow.