"For the first time...."

There's your problem, sir. Hope he's young enough to learn from subsequent ass-whoopings.

Good luck.

You're receiving criticism for your kid having gotten to this point, but corporal punishment is a difficult threshold to cross even if you believe it's necessary, especially with how society treats it these days.

I think you're doing the right thing. Your son is lucky to have a father who cares enough about his future to act.