It depends on what you mean by that term. If you mean to be harsh and verbally bully your child, and call it 'tough love', then that's just wrong. Now I'm not against disciplining a child, because a child needs to be taught right from wrong, but I think that it is crucial, absolutely vital, to know what is discipline, the appropriate way to discipline a child, and what's child-abuse. Personally, I think if a child is being blatantly disrespectful towards their parent/s, then two open-palmed smacks, or one smack, on their bottom or thigh, is fine, that isn't too hard (that leaves welts/bruises or makes the child bleed), but hard (that leaves a sting, and yes, one or two pink marks. No mark means it was a tap). However, to smack a child for something petty and trivial, for no good reason, is abusive. To beat a child, is plain abuse, period. Again, it's about weighing it up. I grew up with a mother who'd verbally abuse me, poke and prod me for the littlest of things. At least when she smacked my bottom, it was for biting my sister's arm-a smack that my bottom warranted. There was a time when I was highly against CP, until 4 particular children were disrespecting me, BIG TIME at work (child-care), and that's when I just thought,'you need a good smack on your backside'.