Childhood thrills and ills

Indiana lately can be just plain stubborn. He goes where he wants to go at warp speed! You can holler "stop" all you like, he will just continue along. I suspect selective hearing loss; he only hears what he wants to hear. When you pick him up to turn him around in a more acceptable direction, he kicks his legs the whole way. At least he doesn't scream yet.

It seems we are entering the "terrible twos" and we aren't even ONE yet!! He is not yet talking back, but he IS showing his preferences for everything. He wants to do what he wants regardless of what we want or say. He looks at me when I yell "NO", smiles, and does it anyways. He spends a lot of time gated into his room for offenses like that.

His dad says its time to start swatting him, but I am not ready to go there yet. The idea of hitting him frightens me. Can I know for sure that a swat is to discipline and not because I am so frustrated and angry that I have to hit him? I just don't trust myself, or anyone else, to not cross the fine line between discipline and anger with my children.

I have fought through-out my life, the demons created by parental anger. I have dwelt in the land of spousal abuse and child abuse and I have worked very hard to cross over to the other side. Some days, twenty years later, I still find myself with issues to overcome. I just don't want that for my sons. I want my sons, both of them, to have an excellent childhood, filled with wonder and joy and learning instead of anguish, pain and hatred. So, for now, no swatting of Indiana's behind.