The possible reasons are multi - faceted. Firstly, in a community - based upbringing, neighbors or friends' parents often had a say in a child's behavior. So, a friend's mother spanking could be part of that community discipline. Secondly, if the misbehavior was causing harm or disruption not just to the friend but also to the family environment, she might feel compelled to take action. For example, if a child was constantly using bad language in her home, she might see spanking as a way to correct that behavior. Additionally, in some families, there was a belief that physical punishment was necessary for teaching right from wrong, and this belief could extend to how a friend's mother dealt with other children's misbehavior.
One reason could be to show authority. A friend's mother might feel the need to discipline another child if they are causing trouble in her home. Another reason could be a lack of proper communication. Maybe she didn't know how else to get the child to stop misbehaving. For example, if the kids were being too rowdy and not listening to her requests.
Perhaps she was in a very bad mood at that time and took out her frustration on you. However, this is no excuse for her inappropriate behavior. It's important to note that she has no right to spank you regardless of the situation.
One reason could be that the boy was being disrespectful. For example, if he was using bad language in the friend's house, the mother might spank him as a form of punishment.
Sometimes it's because of fighting among friends. If friends get into a physical or verbal fight over something silly like a toy, adults may spank them to show that such behavior is unacceptable. This helps them learn how to resolve conflicts in a more civilized way and respect each other.
The new mother may be under a great deal of stress. Taking care of a new baby is extremely challenging, and if she has other children as well, a misbehaving child could push her to her limits. She might think that spanking is a quick way to get the child to stop the unwanted behavior, like if the child is constantly fighting with siblings or making a mess right after she has just cleaned up. But again, there are better, non - violent ways to handle such situations, like teaching the child about consequences through positive communication.
One possible reason could be that in the story's setting, there is a very close - knit community where families have a different view on discipline. Maybe they believe in collective parenting to some extent. Another reason might be that the friend's mother is seen as a very authoritative figure in the community and the parents think she can correct bad behavior effectively.
In some stories, the boy might have been causing trouble in the neighborhood where the girl lives. For instance, he could have been vandalizing property or being a nuisance. If the girl's mother caught him in the act, she might have spanked him out of frustration and a desire to stop his bad behavior right away. But this kind of physical punishment is now considered inappropriate in many places, and alternative methods of correction are preferred.
It could potentially be seen as a way to break taboos in fiction. Some writers might think that by delving into such extreme and somewhat inappropriate topics, they can make a statement about the boundaries of human relationships or the limits of acceptable behavior. But really, it's a very controversial area, and most of the time, we should be more focused on positive, healthy relationship portrayals in literature.
In many stories, disrespect is also a cause. Saying rude things to mom or not listening when she's talking. Moms spank to teach kids to respect others, especially family members. It's their way of instilling good values in a rather tough but sometimes necessary way.
One possible reason could be that the child did something really bad right in front of everyone, like deliberately breaking a precious item belonging to the mother's friend. The parent, in a moment of anger and lack of self - control, resorted to spanking.
One reason could be disobedience. If a boy doesn't listen to the woman, for example, doesn't do his chores or homework as told, she might spank him over her knee as a form of punishment.