Keep your chin up. Pay no attention to the 'everyone gets a trophy' crowd.

I'm a dad of four awesome boys. I know how you feel. I do think it's a big mistake to shake them. Every parent makes mistakes, even the best ones. I mess up every day. Your motivation matters just as much as your action. If you're spanking, or shaking, or yelling because YOU'RE irritated or frustrated, it's a…

You sound like a mom. A frustrated mom, but not a bad mom. The good news is it will eventually pass and you'll be nostalgic for these younger years. Get a sitter for the night, and go to the spa or bookstore and just have some peace away from the kids for a bit. Decompress. Thank you for sharing your story. There are…

> "I don't have kids"

Dont listen to all of the over-sensitive know-it-alls who are jumping on your case, anyone with half a brain understood your comment and you clearly aren't a bad mom for making mistakes.

I think your wording is going to cause a lot of rage on here but I kinda understand what you are saying/doing. I have a five year old and a one year old. My five year old is his mother's twin in that he is incredibly independent and stubborn. It's a good thing because he won't take shit from anyone as he gets older…

I hear where you're coming from. I have kids, ages 1, 3, and 5, and the older ones get spanked when nothing else works to get them to listen and behave. I've tried taking away every possession they own, it has no effect. I offer to reward them, no effect. No amount of words has any effect. Sending them to "time out"…

I have had this "discussion" on Jezebel before, and it never turns out good. Everyone here has made up their mind that spanking = hitting = abuse. You are going to be called a horrible mother, you are not. I'm not sure why it was collectively decided that spanking is beyond the pale, when most of us were spanked as…

Ha ha! You crack me up. It's hard as shit to raise children. I wish more people were honest about. I'm sure you are doing fine, so long as when you say you are hitting your kid when he hits his siblings, you don't mean you are punching the little bugger. I really think there is nothing wrong with a pop on the…

Why is it horrifying to think about things you would never act out in real life? Serious question.

um...no?

So: I remember a few years ago when I posted something about how my grandma always gave the worst gifts and they were a running joke with the other members of the family. I got about a million comments decrying how I could be so cruel to my dear old Nana, who was trying so hard, and how terrible a person I was for…

Nonsense about the abuse or you being an awful person. This is all totally normal, assuming when you say you are shaking him and physically relocating him, you aren't actually hurting him or shaking him in a scary/harmful way. Grabbing a whining, defiant 4 year old by the arm and leading him off to the bathroom-…

LOL, the judgement is so terrible. Parents are the fucking worst. Well, almost. Even worse are non-parents who make judgements based on their selective memories of when they were young and have absolutely no clue what their parents were really going through.

You are going to get destroyed here haha.

I resort to one good spank on the butt when my also 4 year old takes his shit too far. I also reinforce it with a "go to your room" and an authoritative point in that general direction, and he's not allowed to come out until he's done crying and ready to apologize. He gets…

Oh my GOD, shut UP with the drama. Peace out — this is officially pointless.

My younger son had tantrums 3-8 times a day for his first three years, starting with colic and finishing around 3-4. I have always suffered from noise aversion. Because this is the internet, I will leave the rest to your imagination.

LOL this is why my mom friends and I have a secret Facebook group where we can vent about how we shackle our kids to hot radiators, I mean, deal with stress.

I get that. It's not like, a philosophy, or even something I do every single time, or most times. I've read the research and I'd say in the past couple of months I've tried different ways. I know I'll be excoriated. I appreciate you saying you are not trying to judge me and then sounding like you're actually not…

Listen, I'm actually really sensitive about this and rather than be defensive I'll just go into more detail: I know that in those moments I am not trying my best. I'm reacting out of emotion and a need for control. The stresses we are dealing with often get the best of me. Of anyone. I'm not perfect all the time. When…