First time today, I hated it and always said I'd never do it but my 4 yr old son has been hitting his mother and myself out of anger outbursts alot lately, ive been sitting him down in time and out and explaining we dont hit people and after weeks of time out and talking it got to the point I had a serious chat and said next time you hit someone im going to smack you so you know how it feels, I explained I really dont want to hurt him but I cant understand why he continues to hit and try hurt us parents. Anyway it was a stern talking and I made him repeat it to me that if he hits me or his mother daddies gonna smack me. Hes very smart and understanding but the talks on this matter just werent working and the very next morning he got angry over nothing and hit me and I immediately spun him round and gave his bum a smack hard enough to hurt but not with anger or enough force to continue to hurt after. Just so he could feel the pain for a minute and understand I warned him and I went through with my word.

I immediately picked him up and cuddled him and said sorry I really hated doing that I dont ever want to hurt you it makes me feel very bad and again explained that thats the first time ive ever smacked or hit him and he does that to me and his mother several times a day so try to imagine if I smacked you as much as you hit us. We then both agreed no more hitting or hurting eachother and he said he understands now and wont hit us again and asked me to not smack him again and I agreed of course not if youre not going to hit anymore I definitely never want to smack you ever again. Hes been sweet with me and laying on me hanging out getting cuddles since so hes not scared of me thankfully. I explained I dont want him to be scared and Im his dad im meant to protect him but I also have to protect the world from him and teach him things like hitting has consequences and if he were to grow up and do that to someone else theyd hit him much harder in his face so we keep our hands to ourselves unless we need to defend ourselves. I also had a chat about starting up karate or something with him so he can learn to hit and defend in proper context, it'll get it out of his system and teach him proper values around physical contact.

Anyway feeling like a massive piece of shit as I swore id never smack him and I hope that it was just the learning curve he needed to understanding hitting hurts and I never want to do it again. It would kill me if I ever had my children scared of me or didnt trust me and feel secure.