Is the 17 year old blood related? Just a hunch I guess....
These days one can never be careful enough, I use to take no shit from anyone...But after getting older and wiser I will turn the other cheek , of course I would not stand for being belted, but then again that has never happened....
When it comes to ones own children, you either put the time in from day one to discipline them or you will pay the price down the road...the problem with most parents now days, they aren`t willing to put the time in....kids eventually are running wild because of it...
I don`t think you really need to spank a kid if you parent along the way...not always the case but its possible