Here's my biggest problem. My child is really funny! And the bad part is that she knows she's funny. She already likes to ham it up when people are laughing at something she's done. But the WORST part is that when I use my super stern voice (it's so scary, y'all) and say, "Macey, no ma'am!" She cries and cries like I've just told her that the New Kids on the Block aren't really going on tour again next summer. It's bad. (Don't worry, NKOTB are totally going on tour next summer WITH the Backstreet Boys!)
So, then I just feel like the meanest woman ever. A tiny part of me would rather let her pour the dog's water bowl all over the kitchen floor than watch her cry, but I know that's not the best decision. So far, we've done a few time outs because when she's super frustrated or exhausted, her immediate reaction is to hit when something doesn't go her way. That's not very nice, huh? So, I try to sternly say, "Macey, no hitting," and head to time out...but that sneaky little thing either smiles and thinks about hitting something/someone/some dog again or cries those crocodile tears.
I know I'm not the only one dealing with this! What are your go-to discipline methods?
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| Clearly I'm a little immature because this book cover cracked me. Look how mad that girl looks! |
Sounds like you are doing all the right things- the most important thing is consistency. I find that if I say no one day but let him get away with things the next we take one step forward and then two steps back. If we don't want him to throw his Thomas train at my head, he can't throw it period. We have to tell him no and put him in time out, which we do Supernanny style: time out (tell him why), let him sit, make SURE he sits, after the 1-2 minutes is up we ask him if he knows why he is in time out (which he always knows why) and then we do hugs & kisses.
ReplyDeleteI know some who have done the Happiest Toddler on the Block style toddler-ease talk but it did nothing for me or him and I think my kid was too smart for it in the first place.
I think you're right about consistency! She's only 15 months old, but she clearly knows what "no" means. Whether she listens every time is another story. I figure that if she understands that no means no, then we better consistenly back that up or the word will become useless.
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