Some punishments clearly cross the line. This is one of them.
A woman allegedly beat her 7-year-old daughter -- leaving bruises and lacerations -- for kissing a kindergarten classmate. A New Jersey judge ruled that she was not within her parental rights for a punishment that went well beyond a "customary spanking."
In court documents, the mother defended the beating saying it was within her constitutional rights to use that type of punishment. And believe it or not, an earlier court decision agreed with her. The first judge to hear the case didn't think the whupping was actually excessive. Huh? That is a serious head scratcher. But it's easy to see why that decision was reversed.
Prosecutors said photos of the girl showed bruises on her arms, back, buttocks and thoughts. She also had cuts to her buttocks and right though likely caused by the belt buckle. If this mom reacts like this over a little kiss, I shudder to think of what would happen if the little girl were to cuss or hit. There must be some line when it comes to corporal punishment.
I know, I know. Just who is going to set the standard outlining when it's okay to hit. Well, until the International Association of Spanking Parents comes out with an official rule book, parents will just have to use a bit of common sense. Kiss - a scolding, if even that. Stealing - a spanking, if that's your preference. In any circumstance, a spanking that results is bruising and lacerations is over-the-top. Giving birth to children doesn't give you the right to torture them.
Do you think this mom was within her rights?
Images via InExtremiss/Flickr
This Hot Dad Wants to Vacuum Your Rug
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
This Hot Dad Wants to Cook You Dinner
Comments 80
Here is the actual story folks
it doesnt even sound like the mother was punished at all and the child is still in the home. BIG CPS FAIL right here.
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/20/12320664-court-punishment-over-daughters-kiss-was-too-harsh?lite
No, she was not within her rights. What culture are they from?
a 7yr old kissing isnt going to be like a teenager with hormones!! this was completely unacceptable behaviour from a parent. This is not a spanking this was a beating on a 7yr old child. Im shocked, how can some parents be so cruel
a 7yr old kissing isnt going to be like a teenager with hormones!! this was completely unacceptable behaviour from a parent. This is not a spanking this was a beating on a 7yr old child. Im shocked, how can some parents be so cruel
No!
I am a mom of 4 and all of my kids have been spanked at one time or another by me. When it does happen it's after many many warnings or breaking a very important safety rule like running out in the middle of the street. The anticipation of the spanking is the worst part I think ('go sit on your bed and wait for me'), so when it comes down to the acutal spank it doesn't need to be so severe that it leaves a mark on the child. This mom obviously has her own issues and her poor daughter is being abused. Parents have the right to discipline their children but leaving cuts and bruising over a kindergarten kiss is not discipline, it's abuse.