First I will say that there is definitely a difference between "spanking" and "beating". Spanking may not necessarily be that bad...I don't think.

That said, I have one parent (Kendall) who in my almost 35 years on this planet has never laid a hand on me for any reason. I love and respect him with all my heart, and I have always been able to talk to him about any subject, knowing that I would get an honest answer, help, advice or whatever it was that I needed.

The other parent was (I say was because she suffers from severe dementia now) a bitter, mean-spirited, jealous awful person who would sooner hit us than tell us the time of day. When my sisters and I moved her into assisted living a few years back we found the old metal yard stick that she used to whack us with...you can tell because all the paint is worn off the end that connected with our butts. She is the reason I chose not to have children of my own. I watched my eldest sister turn into her and there is no way in hell I'm going to let that happen to me.

I haven't spoken to my mother in several years and even though she's very sick now I just can't feel sorry for her. Karma is a bitch. I have absolutely NO respect for the woman and never have because she didn't earn it.