My Grandparents had a razor strap that they used, which was mildly better than picking out your own switch. My Grandfather was going for the pain element though. The worst one I remember was when I was in the bathtub and my butt was wet. That hurt like a son of a .... I'm pretty sure I never made him mad when I was in the bath again.
My parents didn't stop to think about a punishment, it was usually just an impulse smack or worse. My Dad could be set off by the drop of a hat, literally. i remember throwing my Brownie beenie down the stairs so that it was with the rest of my stuff and my Dad flew up those stairs like lightening. I didn't sit for awhile and was too embarassed to go to Brownies that day.
I think I have given my son a "pat" on the butt a few times but I only remember doing so twice, both times he was putting himself in a dangerous situation. I would never leave a mark on my child like others had done to me. We use logical reasoning with zach and when that doesn't work priveleges go away.
I would never do to my child what was done to me.
I don't really blame my Mom though, after all My Grandfather did much worse things to her than she ever did to me. I don't think she knew any other way.
Wow, that was much longer than I intended it to be, sorry
