Couple who practice 'domestic discipline' lift the lid on their unusual lifestyle which sees wife 'punished' if she breaks his rules - but insist it is different from BDSM

A couple who practice 'domestic discipline' have lifted the lid on their unusual lifestyle - and explain why it's different from BDSM.

Brandi and Lazarus Robinson, from Columbus, Ohio, have been together for 15 years and share three children - but for the past decade they have practiced domestic discipline, claiming they are 'happier' than they have ever been.

Their relationship dynamic means they observe traditional gender roles with Brandi, 36, doing the cooking and housework with Lazarus, 38, taking care of the garden and related manual chores.

The couple explained that some people think their relationship is 'abusive' or claim that Brandi is being brainwashed - but they insist that is absolutely not the case and it was actually Brandi's idea.

'Domestic discipline relationship is a dynamic between two consenting adults where you have a dominant and a submissive,' Brandi explained in a YouTube video for Truly.

Brandi and Lazarus Robinson, from Columbus, Ohio, have practiced domestic discipline for the past 10 years they've claiming they're 'happier' than they've ever been

The couple who practice 'domestic discipline' have shared how exactly they practice their divisive lifestyle at home - and why it's different from BDSM

'The dominant usually referred to as the HOH - which is head of household,' she continued. 

'The submissive is referred to as a sub or a TIH - which means taken in hand.'

Brandi explained the dominant partner sets the rules and expectations for the submissive to live by, and there are consequences if they don't follow the rules or if they don't meet the expectations.

She added there are strict rules she has to follow, which she dubbed the 'four Ds,' that are danger, disobedience, disrespect and dishonesty.

'Consequences being broken under the four Ds [could] be from spanking or writing lines, corner time or just a a stern lecture - it depends on which rule you broke. They all suck,' the loving wife explained.

Brandi's chores include doing daily household takes including tidying the house, doing the laundry and all the cleaning.

'Unless it's grilling,' the mom-of-three quipped. 'He does the grilling.'

Although the couple have settled into their roles now, Lazarus said when Brandi first brought the domestic discipline lifestyle to his attention he felt 'awkward' and didn't fully understand it.

Brandi explained the dominant partner sets the rules and expectations for the submissive to live by, and there are consequences if they don't follow the rules or if they don't meet the expectations

There are strict rules she's has to follow, which she dubbed the 'four Ds', which are danger, disobedience, disrespect and dishonesty

They have been together for 15 years and share three children

Brandi said she came across the idea to adopt the lifestyle after she repeatedly received recommendations for a book called Spank Your Spouse Avoid Divorce.

'It surprisingly made sense so I just decided to bring it up to him at first,' she recalled.

There was an adjustment period, with Lazarus admitting he was afraid he was hurting his wife when he would 'punish' her.

'I thought I was hurting my wife,' he explained, adding he's 'never left a mark' on Brandi despite using wooden spoons for spanking that have 'what daddy says goes' written on them.

The couple said they don't consider their situation abusive because it's consensual.

'I don't think people consent to being abused,' she pointed out. 'It was my idea and I had to convince him to do it there's no long lasting damage it hurts for a little while and then it goes away.'

The pair are also adamant that there is a big difference between domestic discipline and BDSM - despite what people think.

'BDSM there's an enjoyment factor,' Brandi explained. 'Either you enjoy getting spanked or you enjoy spanking somebody.'

She clarified she doesn't 'enjoy being spanked' and her husband 'doesn't enjoy doing it.'

'There's really not much similarities, it doesn't bother me that he doesn't get the same consequences that I do because our situations are different and our roles are different,' she said.

Brandi, 36, does the cooking and housework while Lazarus, 38, takes care of the garden and related manual chores

Brandi explained the consequences of breaking rules could result in spanking or writing lines, corner time or just a a stern lecture (pictured writing lines)

Brandi, who has since started a Facebook group as a 'safe space' for other couples interested in the lifestyle to learn, and Lazarus say their children know about their unique way of living.

The couple's 13-year-old says she knows 'quite a bit' about domestic discipline and although she acknowledges there are some 'iffy' parts of it, doesn't think it's 'anything too crazy.'

'I would not have a similar relationship to my parents,' the teen continued. 'As I just don't believe it would suit the type of person that I am.'

 'It's not for everybody,' Brandi agreed. 

'We're happier than we have ever been, we get along better than than most couples - I don't think we can could be happy without it anymore,' she admits.

'It is our life - basically you'd be amazed at how many people actually live this way.'