Proverbs 13:24 (NASBStr)
He who withholds his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
This proverb is so foreign to today's chid rearing mantra. In the mid 1940s Dr. Spock published his famous book on child care and child development and that forever changed the concept of not just corporal punishment (mentioned in the above proverb) but child care of all kinds. Tough love was replaced, eventually, by time outs. Our societal-world-view is quite different than a Biblical-world-view. The NIV Study Bible has a great thought on this verse:
NIV Study notes: Whoever spares the rod hates their children. Parents are encouraged to apply the rod of punishment to drive out folly (22:15) so that the child will not follow a path of destruction (19:18; 23:13–14). The rod and a reprimand “impart wisdom” (29:15) and promote a healthy and happy family life (29:17). Discipline is rooted in love (see 3:11–12 and note). rod. Probably a figure of speech for caring discipline of any kind.
Although I disagree that the "rod" is a figure of speech, what the study notes tell us is that God knows that real love includes discipline (of many sorts). In Hebrews 10 we are told that God chastens every son He receives. And, He does so out of love. I especially like the reference in 29:15:
The rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
When we don't discipline a child and we don't because we "want them to know we love them and accept them the way they are" we will eventually get shame. Correction (the rod AND reproof) will give wisdom. Neglect discipline and two things happen: The child loses a chance to gain wisdom and the parent gains shame.
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