Good thought "in it to win it", you are absolutely correct. Consistency is the key, if you tell your children what is wrong and what the punishment will be then don't follow through with that punishment, eventually your children will realize that talk is cheap and push the envelope further. However, if as a parent you follow up with the stated punishment or known punishment each and every time, then your children will get the idea and realize that there are consequences for their actions.
Also, I do believe in spanking, and I do spank my children when it is required. But my wife and I also believe that the punishment should fit the crime.
This post began with what sounded like a parent losing control, and has progressed into a political debate about spanking vs abuse. I strongly feel that it the parent's responsibility to raise proper children and that if the parent can't determine when that and loses control then that parent needs to realize this and seek guidance before it escalates into something that could become dangerous for the parent and the child.
