Disciplining your children. Not a fun topic, but a worthwhile pursuit.
I had noticed a certain 3-year-old girlie of mine terrorizing her sibling
s. This wasn’t exactly new, it was just more of the same but worse. She was really getting out of hand. How did it get so far? She didn’t throw temper tantrums in the store…not exactly…she just cried and pouted until I gave in. She didn’t bite other kids…much. She didn’t run around and hit kids… except for her older brothers & sisters…and only when she was mad….hmm. Maybe it got so far by my excuses to myself. The other 4 were behaving well…or were they?
So after cleaning my house the other day, and being so much more content because of it. I noticed my little one’s behavior. It was no longer tolerable. I started out by reminding her of the behavior that was expected, then spanking her for the egregious infractions, but still over looking the little stuff. Then Daddy came home. BOY did he ever notice more than I was noticing.
So as was suggested on the Raising Godly Tomatoes website, I kept her right with me for a day, not letting her out of my sight, reminding and/or disciplining her of anything she was doing that went against our rules, and spending extra time with her loving on her and playing with her, and praising her when she did right.
AND…….
Today I have seen more smiles and hugs and obedience than ever. She is saying “Yes, mam” and obeying quickly. I tried to help her with her pull-up this morning and I usually get “NO! I do it! Ngh!” but this morning I got, “I do it…But thsank you! : )” Yay!!!
I don’t give the other kids candy hardly ever, but I give it t her quite often, because she asks nicely, but if I don’t she starts a crying fit. But just now, she asked for some of my candy and when I said no she just smiled, shrugged and walked away. Wow!
Not fun to discipline, but great are the rewards!
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. Proverbs 13:24
