I had actually reacted completely opposite to what you said when my kids ran too close to the busy road. I swooped them up and hugged them so close -- and told them they could have been squished like bugs (because they knew what squished bugs looked like). But back talking? Nope. Not tolerated. Not if they were being completely disrespectful or calling me names if they were mad about something. Now that I think about it, I may have told them that I don't care how they cuss or sass each other or their friends, but I drew the line for how they were going to talk to me. My kids never got spanked for accidents like broken plates or spilling food or anything like that. But my oldest once broke a glass out of spite because he was angry with me. Just picked it up and threw it. That got 3 spanks on the butt. And I showed him my boo-boo from getting pricked with a thin shard and told him that could have been in his foot. We don't throw breakables! I've also told them if they're angry to go jump on their beds. Hmm. Yeah, that was okay in my house. Maybe I'm just strange?