Hey! I agree with everyone...simply because we don't know the parents mentioned at the start of the thread and the rest of life is full of so many variables who are we to judge. Luckily (no I don't think luck came into it) both MBS Lynne and myself have pretty damn good children. No coincidence that they were all brought up in the folk world and used to knowing when to be neither seen nor heard under a pub table. They also knew that their time would come when they would be the centre of attention again.
Smacks? Hmm..I always thought they should be used, but in moderation and hopefully not in anger, but my little blighter never needed any!! (Thanks T.)

Final thought, as has come out on this thread...Parenting is probably the most continuing challenge we take on in life. But we go into it so unprepared.
A.