Tuesday, July 29, 2008

What is Discipline?

I recently got my new Parents magazine. Why I still have this and continue to read this baffles me but, whatever. So, one of the articles I was reading was all about a new way to discipline children. This new way to instill discipline is to gloss over the bad stuff and overpraise the child when said child does the appropriate behavior. Hmmmm...even goes so far as to say that time outs and stern talking tos are not effective. Really? As I was reading this article I realized that I must be the worst parent ever as I recalled the disciplining I had just down the day before. I had my children sitting at the kitchen counter eating breakfast while I finished getting ready for work. Not usually the way things are done in the house but Dad had to leave super early and could not do his usual routine of getting the kids ready. So, as needs must, I let them eat while I am not in the kitchen with them (strike 1). Lots of laughing and giggling ensue. I calmly tell them to stop and eat, at least 10 times (no joke)...then yell at them to stop it and eat (strike 2). 5 minutes later the screaming and crying start. Oh dear. What now? Rushing out of the bathroom I sail into the kitchen with hastily tied robe, half done make-up and wild wet hair (quite a sight I'm sure...especially with the really angry look on my face). I ask WHAT is wrong now. The older (in tears) tells me that the little one hit him in the head with his spoon (you know, the one he is supposed to be eating his cereal with). At this point I think my mind went completely blank...I took the little one's spoon and donked him on the head (nowhere near as hard as he did to his brother), you know to show that it hurts and he should not hit his brother in the head with a spoon. (strike 3 and I am OUT!) According to the magazine article I did everything wrong. However, I have had no more spoon hitting head incidents....wonder if I should over praise them now?

5 comments:

Nic said...

Praise the spoon? Give them a fork? Let them murder each other?

Who bloody knows, I get sick of being guilted out into what I should and shouldn't do. Get some good marketing and make our own book called 'why duct tape and sleep meds are the way forward for kids'

Nice blog :-)

Chaotic Joy said...

Totally awesome. You're catching up on Karen as my new hero. One point for hitting your child with cutlery.

LMP said...

I don't read most parenting magazines because I find them ridiculous and largely sexist. My mom used to bite us when we bit each other. Know what? I haven't bitten any of my brothers since. I'll give you a point, though, for reading a magazine that's so silly.

*pal said...

Bravo on your performance as Little Bunny Fu-Fu

*pal said...

Oh, and Congrats! By my clock, it is August now, and you have the most points for July.