Being yelled at did nothing for me except made me yell back. Time outs made me twice as asshole-ish and just gave me time to think about what I'd do to get back at them for it. I didn't listen to anything anybody had to say to me when I was angry or wanted something. I laughed when they took things away from me, even important things because it was more important to me to win than to have whatever it was. Hard spanking was the only thing that ever got my attention seriously enough to stop me from acting out or made me think twice before doing something in the first place because I wasn't physically strong enough to stop them. Some kids really are just that stubborn.

Today I don't get into trouble with authority or the law. I'm not violent or abusive to anyone or anything. I don't feel like my self esteem or sense of self was damaged from being hit by my parents. I think it's the only thing that kept me from all of the above, and I'm glad they gave enough of a shit about me to take the hard line and do the difficult thing rather than pussy around with shit that didn't work.