I think it could be worse. Once when I got in really bad trouble as a kid, my dad made me go into his woodshop and pick out a 2x4. He made me sit there and watch while he drew the paddle pattern, cut it out with his table saw thing, and sanded it. Took about 1/2 an hour. Then he whooped me in the behind with it. That's messing with your kid's head!! But it really didn't hurt much.