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This is my response to a discussion this morning on Radio Scotland, about whether or not a law should now be introduced, making physical chastising of children as serious as violence against an adult.

This is SUCH an important discussion; particularly around the classic 'Well, I was smacked as a child, and it didn't do ME any harm' kind of approach.... Numb people do not know what they are lacking - they don't know what damage has been done to them, because they simply cannot feel it.

People who are numb, or who believe that hitting a child is 'the right thing' are unaware of the massive negative consequences that are very likely to ensue - especially to sensitive or very creative children.

Physical use of power by an authority (or care-giving) person, towards a smaller/ weaker person ingrains a deep, very lucid conditioning: that if one is strong, it is 'right' and 'good' to use one's strength to control a person who is less strong.

There don't have to be studies of millions of children to see the long-term effects of this: every child is unique, but every child is also potentially sentient, especially when small and impressionable - even more especially, before they have been conditioned into not feeling, or into ignoring their feelings, or armouring themselves. For some children, they never recover from violence, and suffer life-long with having had to create inner defences or coping strategies.

I felt really strongly about this, so wanted to share in this network too <3

Much love to you all today, in all our biodiverse sentience,
Clare xx

www.clareartista.com

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