My Neighbor'S Child

I wasn't asking her to do the dishes, just help in clearing the table. She was a real snot that day.

In your story you wrote that you asked your daughter and the neighbor girl to "clean off the table and wash the dishes." I'm sorry if I misunderstood.

Still, I would not order a lunch guest to do any chores, even merely clearing the table. I imagine in your place, I might have inquired of her if she would "like" to help my daughter and I, expecting her to do so. And she would have been aware of my mild disapproval of her if she refused.

But I wouldn't have ordered her to help as if she were my daughter to command, rather than a guest. And I wouldn't have complained to her mother. Perhaps it was a bit spoiled of her to tell you "no." But my heart ached when you described that poor child getting a two-dozen-slap spanking in front of one of her peers and her peer's Mom. I don't feel she earned that. And in any event, if a spanking had to be given, her mother should have taken her home and done it in private and not in front of your daughter and you. I am glad my mother never put me over her knee and spanked me in front of my friends when I was that age.

And then her mother gave her a severer whipping with a strap when she got her home?

That poor girl. I think her mother was much too severe with her. If I were in your position, I'm quite sure I would never again complain to that child's mother about her behavior unless that child had done something very seriously naughty which I felt absolutely required discipline. I'd let the little things slide. For that little girl's sake, I hope you do likewise.

Nothing really - since she was not in the room when it happened. But she definetly heard it.

Wow would you have spanked her if given the choice?

No, not my child and did not have permission.