OK y'all--I'm feeling really terrible right now. I am "against" spanking but today I lost it with my son. I have several times before gotten so angry at him throwing food that I lightly smacked his hands but that's it. I might have done one quick smack on the butt one time, too, but he didn't seem phased by it.
Here's the situation: I stayed up working until midnight last night, DS came into our bed at like 11 PM, which was fine---until he woke us up at 6 AM, kicking my back, incessantly whining, crying for milk, etc. That didn't make me snap, though. It just set the tone for a terrible morning. It's SO hot and humid right now, and I left our air conditioned room and basically walked into a sauna. I got DS's lunch ready, and then scooped the cat litter (I know I probably shouldn't since pregnant, but DH isn't gonna keep up with it). The cats peed on a rubber mat next to the litter box. As I'm taking it outside, it's dripping pee all over the hallway. I come back in the house to find DS throwing scoop-fuls of litter all over the dining room. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I just snapped.
I grabbed his arm and spanked him on the butt twice (at least it was cushioned by a diaper). It made me feel terrible. It was totally my weakness, too--he thought the litter was fun, like sand at the beach (we were just at the beach this wknd). So he starts crying and telling DH that "mommy hurt me".
I apologized to him but I've felt terrible ever since.

I'm typically quite patient with him (and in general), and I actually think pregnancy hormones might be (in part) to blame. I've been in such a mood, and then everything just piled up.
Ugh--anyway, thanks for reading my vent. I had to get it out. I don't know how to redeem myself for the spanking. I'm worried he will be afraid of me now.
Anyone with similar experiences have any tips for forgiving yourself and for making sure your child feels OK?