I just looked at my boys and asked them it they would like to make it to their next b-day because they may not make it to the next 5 minutes. I used to ask them also if they would like me to make "Banshee" time. I could always be louder than they ever were. I always got my point across. Never had to beat them. They knew better than to "dare" me. I always carried out the dare and they suffered the consequences. Only took a couple of times when they were very young. I didn't have time to put up with those kind of actions. I wasn't a mean or strict mother, I was a matter of fact and no nonsense mother.