This could be interesting, and I could get backlash but here I go.
I am sooooo fed up with this child abuse stuff. The idea that a single open handed spank on the bottom is child abuse is absurd. I agree that a belt or other foreign object should constitute abuse but not an open hand, a single time. Some children just don't respond to the same type of discipline that others do. A friends child would be put in a corner for time out and he would lick the paint off the wall, and when his time out was over, go directly back to what he was doing wrong. Positive reenforcement works on one of my kids and not the other, she responds well to time outs. At 3 yrs old, I'm very proud of my kids behaver (yes they are twins). The friend I was talking about, his son responds to nothing but a pat on the butt.
I just can't believe how many people forget that all kids are not the same, and require different types of discipline, educational aids, attention and such. It is ridiculous to think that just because your child responded to it, that someone else's will.
Next, I can't stand how clothing is being made lately. I went to buy clothing for my girls and saw tummy shirts and mini skirts for toddlers, I hate seeing that on older kids, much less small children in those cloths. Don't our children have enough problems right now that we need to create more by advertising them in "sexual clothing"? And while I'm on that anyway, has anyone heard these "Kids Bop" Cd's their selling now? I really need to see my child running around the house singing "I'm a slave to you" or anything where they say "Cristal meth will get you up" the sexual undertones in those Cd's is disgusting, and very clear, at least in the original versions the words are just a little harder to understand and targeted at adults. But it's not my problem what others buy their kids, or what is said on the radio, TV, etc. That's why there is a power button, and books.
Speaking of which, when did the 1st amendment get all messed up. The freedom of speech either applies, or don't. It has something to do with that Land of the "Free" thing. Why don't school children get free speech, student lead prayer in schools, and such. I went to school with a boy that didn't believe in Christmas, so during the class Christmas party, he got to have a day off school. During his religious holidays, if his parents didn't want him in school to celebrate at home, no big deal, and if he was in school for those days, we had a wonderful opportunity to learn about other peoples beliefs. If he wanted to participate in Christian holidays, he received the education, it was never forced on him. I want my children to understand others beliefs and not have tunnel vision about their own.
I'll have more thoughts later.