Discipline

What does God say about Disciplining our children? Proverbs 23:13 says that "Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die". I believe that you do not always have to use physical punishment, there are other ways to discipline, however, I do believe when the children are smaller its not wrong to give them a pat on the bottom. The scenario that is almost often used is "If a child runs in the street you will pull them back and smack their bottom". That ultimately saves them. The scripture says in Proverbs 19:18
"Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death". I think that once a child gets to a certain age, physical discipline should not be used. I know of people who were still getting disciplined well into their teen years. There is no need for that if you teach them when they are younger. I truly believe that the toddler age is the time when you really rear your kids into the things that are acceptable and whats not. I have this issue now with a very strong willed 2 1/2 year old. He wears me out! I am trying to come up with different ideas in the way we discipline him but he rarely responds to a "time out" whats a parent to do? It truly does hurt me more then him if I need to pat him on the bottom. Lord knows I don't want to but I fear if I don't train him now, what will the future hold? I can only pray and trust God. As parents thats the number one thing we do and trust the scripture when it says Proverb 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart".