When I was a little girl, my parents were always very fair and kind, but they believed in teaching us right from wrong. One day, after a long car journey, I needed to use the bathroom very badly. When we arrived home, my sister was already in the shower, and Mother told me to go straight to bed. I tried to sleep, but my tummy felt uncomfortable.
The next morning, I awoke to find my bed wet. I felt terribly ashamed. Quietly, I changed my sheets and put them in the laundry, hoping no one would notice. But Mother was doing the washing that day. As I sat in my room, she came in holding the damp sheets, her face very serious.
‘What is this?’ she asked gently but firmly. I tried to think of an excuse, but I could not lie to Mother. She always knew the truth.
So I told her everything. Mother listened carefully. She reminded me that I was growing up and should try my best to be responsible. She was cross, for she had warned me before, and she had had a difficult morning with my younger brothers.
‘I am very disappointed in you. Wait here,’ she said. I did not know what would happen, but I certainly did not expect a spanking.
Mother returned with my brothers and took us all to her room. That was where lessons were taught, and sometimes, punishments given.
Mother sat us down and spoke to us for a long time about honesty and good behaviour. Then she brought out her sturdy wooden chair and called my youngest brother, Alistair, to her side. Poor Alistair was trembling. Mother placed him over her knee and gave him six firm smacks on his bottom, each one a reminder to behave. Alistair cried, but Mother hugged him afterwards and told him she loved him.
I felt sorry for my brothers. After Alistair, it was Hamish’s turn. He too was told to stand in the corner and think about his actions.
Mother called Alistair back and, with a gentle but determined voice, gave him another six smacks, making twelve in all. Alistair sobbed, but Mother explained that it was important to learn from mistakes. He stood in the corner, his cheeks wet with tears, but he knew he was loved.
Then it was Hamish’s turn. He was already crying, knowing what was to come. Mother placed him over her knee and gave him twelve sound smacks, each one a lesson in good behaviour. When she finished, Hamish was sent to the corner, his eyes full of tears.
I sat on the bed, my heart beating fast. Mother turned to me and said, ‘Well, what are you waiting for?’ I stood up, feeling very small and frightened.
I could hardly believe it. I was about to be spanked, just like my brothers. Mother said, ‘Children who wet their beds must learn to be careful.’ There was no escape.
I lay across Mother’s lap, my face burning with shame. She gave me six sharp smacks on my bottom, each one stinging, but I knew it was for my own good. Just then, my sister Morag came in, saw what was happening, and quickly left the room.
Mother did not stop. She gave me another fourteen smacks, making twenty in all. By the tenth, I was crying, but Mother finished the lesson. Afterwards, I was sent to the corner to think about what I had done.
While Mother was away, we whispered to each other about how much it hurt. When she returned and caught us, she looked very stern. She called us over, one by one, and gave each of us twenty more smacks, firm but fair. We all cried, but we knew Mother wanted us to grow up to be good and honest children. As a final lesson, she brought out three thick nappies.
Mother put a nappy on Alistair, who was still crying, and gave him five more gentle but firm smacks. Hamish protested, so he received ten extra smacks before his nappy was put on. Finally, I had a nappy put on too, and stood in the corner with my brothers, feeling very sorry for myself.
That evening, Father came home and, hearing of our mischief, decided we needed another lesson. He called us in, one by one, and gave us each six quick smacks, reminding us to always do our best. We were all very tired and our bottoms were sore, but we knew we must try harder.
Before bed, Mother changed our nappies and kissed us goodnight. I lay in bed, my bottom still sore, but I knew I was loved. For two days, I wore a nappy to bed, and I never wet the bed again.
After that, I was always careful. It was my first real spanking, and I never forgot it. Mother sometimes jokes about it, but I know she only wanted me to learn to be good. Perhaps I deserved it, perhaps I did not, but I always loved her.
