I was never "spanked" as far as I can remember, I was beaten & kicked, I was beaten with a leather razor strop (many times), I was hit with pieces of wood, I was hit with a bottle, I was punched, I was whipped with a leather belt with a brass buckle, and NO this is not my sence of humour, this is sad fact!
However, I decided as a father that the circle would be broken, my two have not been "spanked" or in any way treated as I was.
My father did to me what had been done to him etc.
Unwittingly he gave to me my motivation to leave home at 15 & join the Royal Air Force, I just had to get out of there, so I did.
Sadly a friend I was to meet in later life who served 22 years with the Fleet Air Arm (and who works with me to this day) has the same story to tell, and guess what, he has not hit his boys either.
If I had to resort to hitting them then I will feel that I have failed.
Skipy (still bitter).
However you are what you drink & I am a bitter man! (humour)