Dad causes uproar on social media after branding his wife ‘soft’ for not hitting their kids
Angeline and Anthony Smith, both 39, constantly argue over how to discipline their three kids who are so naughty they 'can't take them anywhere'
A DAD has sparked a social media storm after branding his wife "too soft" for not hitting their kids.
The couple, who appeared on Channel 4 show Three Day Nanny earlier this week, admitted they are always arguing over how to discipline their three children.
Angeline and Anthony Smith, both 39, from Stockton On Tees, claim their kids are so naughty they "can't take them anywhere".
Stay-at-home mother Angeline said sons Alessandro, six, Luciano, three, and daughter Carmelina, five, don't listen to her which causes their home to "descend into chaos".
She explained: "I am constantly trying to separate them. I will deal with one and the other two will start fighting.
"'I can't take them anywhere, I can't take them out of the house.
"When we go out I am anxious as I know they are not going to listen to me. They will be off and I'll be shouting, 'Come back!' - but they don't and anything can happen."
Anthony takes a harder approach, giving the kids a smack if they step out of line, and reckons his wife should do the same.
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He said: "She gives in too easily. She doesn't smack and they don't listen to her. They seem to revel in taking the mick out of her. The more she shouts the more they wind her up."
Angeline conceded: "They listen to him more than me, we discipline totally differently and we fight about it a lot. I think he is too harsh and he thinks I am too soft.";
She said she resorts to threatening the naughty kids with what will happen "when daddy gets home" to get them to behave.
Anthony's tough tactics sparked lively debate on social media, with many parents criticising him for resorting to violence as a means of discipline.
One Twitter user wrote: "We don't smack our girls. Not because it's cruel. Because its just not effective. Plus, teaches them hitting is ok? #threedaynanny".
Another posted: "#threedaynanny easy to say 'need a good smack' but it's never right to do this. I have a dog, lots of people say 'smack her', but never do!"
One claimed: "People who smack their children don't deserve their children tbh. #threedaynanny".
But other people thought the odd smack didn't do any harm to a child.
One tweeted: "#threedaynanny I was smacked as a child - it taught me a lesson! It didn't make me hit others or become violent. It's called discipline!"
Another commented: "Wanting to smack your child because he smacked his sister? Makes sense. #threedaynanny"
Expert Kathryn Mewes, 42, drafted in by the show from London to help the family control their offspring and restore harmony, said she was totally against Anthony's form of punishment, adding she "doesn't condone" smacking.
She claimed children don't learn it's wrong to hit one another if they're hit by their own father and recommended sending kids to their room as a form of punishment.
Anthony admitted he felt guilty about hitting them and only did so when he lost his temper.
He told how his dad had smacked him when he was younger and said he ought to 'break the cycle' so his children don't end up doing it to theirs.