AS a youngster if I misbehaved, I got a smack on the bottom. And it worked.

I don't think I turned out too badly, and I certainly think I can control my misbehaving tendencies and impulses.

With all of the debate about whether or not to smack, my thoughts always go back to one thing.

After getting the smack, I understood what I did was bad, and anyway, who in their right mind would want to be smacked?

I don't think hearing "Tegan, that was naughty, please don't do that again", or "Tegan, get to the naughty corner" would have quite the same impact.

The wooden spoon was the extreme end of the scale, if no form of smacking worked.

I never had the wooden spoon, but my older brother Chris did.

From memory, all Mum had to do was open the kitchen drawer and Chris and I would behave ourselves in an instant.

But it seems this anti-smacking approach to parenting is becoming more and more popular.

Honestly, I don't think I will ever understand the fuss over the debate because of how I was disciplined when I was young.

Note to my future children: If you want to be uncontrollable pests you will get that tap on the bum.

After all, I turned out normal. But then again, who's to say what's normal?