Here’s a story that will just make you sick:

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Published: Mar 16, 2006 12:30 AM
Modified: Mar 16, 2006 06:31 AM

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Dead child’s mom sought discipline tips
Lynn Paddock ordered books by a minister and his wife that recommended using pipe to spank kids


A few years ago, Lynn Paddock sought Christian advice on how to discipline her growing brood of adopted children.

Paddock — a Johnston County mother accused of murdering Sean, her 4-year-old adopted son, and beating two other adopted children — surfed the Internet, said her attorney, Michael Reece. She found literature by an evangelical minister and his wife who recommended using plumbing supply lines to spank misbehaving children.

Paddock ordered Michael and Debi Pearl’s books and started spanking her adopted children as suggested. After Sean, the youngest of Paddock’s six adopted children, died last month, his older sister and brother told investigators about Paddock’s spankings.

Sean’s 9-year-old brother was beaten so badly he limped, a prosecutor said. Bruises marred Sean’s backside, too, doctors found.

Sean died after being wrapped so tightly in blankets he suffocated. That, too, was a form of punishment, Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said.

The Pearls’ advice from their Web site: A swift whack with the plastic tubing would sting but not bruise. Give 10 licks at a time, more if the child resists. Be careful about using it in front of others — even at church; nosy neighbors might call social workers. Save hands for nurturing, not disciplining. Heed the warning, taken from Proverbs in the Old Testament, that sparing the rod will spoil the child.

You can read the entire story here:

http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/418676.html

Yes, my friends, it is important to advocate for children. To let them have a voice. To search inside of yourself to determine if your goal is to CONTROL your child or TEACH him how to think for himself. We have so far to go. I will never condone spanking in any form.

Filed under: Parenting and AP

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