The mothers didn't hit their children. The children respected the gentle nature of the their mothers and were very obedient. The husbands didn't hit their wives. When the husband died, the wife cut her hair off and placed it on his body to go with him. Thereafter, she wore short hair as her "badge of widowhood". She would mix his ashes from the cremation with pine, etc and spread it over her face and body to repel would be suitors for an appropriate period of time...or perhaps forever if she wished never to remarry. Sharon