So my fiancé was telling me about his childhood yesterday and he mentioned that he used to get smacked by both parents.

They would smack across the back of the head or ear if he would talk back, or he remembered a time his dad punched him in the back of the head.

He also told me about an incident when he was around 8 years old. His parents had invited family around for a barbecue. He was around having fun (like any kid does) and he accidentally ran into barbecue and knocked it over and really hurt himself.

He said his dad went crazy and dragged him through the house to his bedroom, slammed him against the bed and kicked him in the ribs.

Is this abuse? Or is it fine in your opinion to smack your child if they sass you?