There was always something so beautifully innocent about the instant tears of shame that particular question was able to trigger – the boy clearly believing that I was upset to be smacking him, his childish display of guilt and remorse. Of course, I would say all the things many parents tend to say their child in such circumstances, such as ‘this hurts me more than it hurts you’ or (a personal favourite) ‘do you think Daddy likes having to smack your bottom?’
While I always had a genuine reason for smacking them, such as disobedience or lying, when the opportunity did arise to dish out corporal punishment, I must admit that I enjoyed the experience. I am a UK-based father of three boys, and regularly smacked their bottoms when they were growing up.