Mom arrested for spanking her own children after they were caught stealing... It's now CRIMINAL to be a real parent

Tuesday, June 28, 2016 by: J. D. Heyes
Tags: spanking children, parenting, discipline

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(NaturalNews) Has our society reached a point where spanking a child is no longer acceptable – or, in some cases even legal? Maybe, considering what happened to a mother near Baton Rouge, La., though clearly not all Americans agree that spanking, in moderation, should be off limits.

As reported by CBS Los Angeles, a woman who spanked her kids after she says she caught them stealing, was subsequently arrested, and that has touched off a firestorm of protest and discussion over what constitutes simple spanking, and what amounts to child abuse, as well as what rights a parent has in choosing that form of discipline.

The local network affiliate reported that the woman, a mother of six, found three of her kids – all boys, aged between 10 and 13 – had broken into a neighbor's house and were burglarizing it. When she found them she took a belt to them, but was later arrested and had all of her kids taken away from her.

The mother, Schaquana Evita Spears, in a tearful interview with a local TV station, quickly justified her actions.

"Everything I do is for my kids, and because I didn't want them to commit another crime," she said, adding that she could not "live" without them.

'If you love your children you will discipline them'

Spears also said that her kids' father was currently serving time in prison, and that she most certainly did not want any of them to wind up in jail as he had.

She also appears to be a good role model for them: She says they watch every day as she leaves the house to go to work as a chef. She has all of them enrolled in a magnet school, and they are on the honor roll.

Spears pointed out that she believes the boys who stole weren't ringleaders, but "were just followers."

The LA CBS affiliate reported that the spankings, arrest and having her kids taken from her by authorities has created a firestorm of people on social media and elsewhere, with people divided over what has allegedly taken place. But in Baton Rouge anyway, support for Spears is building, the affiliate reported.

"I think every parent has the right to decide how to discipline their kids – I myself have spanked my daughter," said one Inland Empire mother.

Spears has admitted that her punishment was severe, but noted on Facebook that "they took my kids from me."

Many people with whom CBS Los Angeles spoke believe that she did the right thing.

"If it's something that's dangerous for them – which burglarizing the neighborhood is very dangerous for them – then yeah," said one woman.

"I don't think she should have been put in jail," said another.

Police said that the kids had cuts and bruises, and the district attorney is examining the case. "If they were hit extremities, legs, arms, or in the face, or anything like that, then that would be going too far," said one man.

However, said another, "If you love your children, you will discipline them."

Spanking one of several options for many parents

Parenting today is difficult, no question about it, but generally speaking, if you took a survey of adults aged 45–75, the majority of them would tell you that kids today get away with entirely too much.

From the whiny, clingy kids at family events, to the shouters and tantrum-throwers in the grocery store, to the ones who won't take no for an answer in the toy aisle, kids today, older people who have raised children will tell you, are not disciplined nearly enough.

That said, it is not to say that kids aren't disciplined at all – but another aspect of raising kids today versus raising them 15, 20, 30 or 40 years ago, is that discipline is manifested in a very different way. Today, parents are more likely to try to reason with their kids than, say, resort to spanking them. But again, today's grandparents will tell you that spanking, done in moderation, was a very effective form of punishment when it came to teaching your children a lesson you did not want them to forget.

Some parents still do spank, but clearly there is a difference between "spanking" and "beating" a child. For these parents, spanking is one of several discipline options, depending on the severity of the "offense." They should be able to choose that option without worrying about being put in jail.

Sources:

LosAngeles.CBSLocal.com

NaturalNews.com

Science.NaturalNews.com