No Smacking Discipline (TM) was applied to any persons involved with the production of this post!
No Smacking Discipline
See ‘School, Attitude, and Online Gaming‘. It may be that I’m making a fuss out of the whole thing, but when your normally sweet-natured first born son starts behaving like a lout, shouting at his little sister, back talking his parents, huffing and puffing, and *physically* shoving me when we ask him to do reasonable things, it’s time to apply ‘No Smacking Discipline (TM)’.
I’ve got zero tolerance for family members who don’t understand that this family is a team. I certainly don’t like offspring, talking rudely to me. It was way past removing the DS for a day. It was way past re-thinking computer time. It was however time to paint him the entire picture. Give him the perspective that we are all in this together – through thick and thin. Our quality of life is really important and depends on every one of us in the family. The last two weeks have been difficult, but if it continues, it’s going to get worse.
And it all has to occur with No Smacking Discipline (TM). How can it be done especially given I was fuming.
Well, I did it. No, not in a calm manner. If I was livid, Wills needs to know it. I was happy to raise my voice. I was happy to let him see that glint in my eye. Was I foaming at the mouth? You betcha.
Wills was told what his future holds (nothing but suffering), what the next week holds (more suffering) and what every day is going to be like (lots more suffering). If we can’t help him get back on track, we’re going to get professionals in to help, and in the meanwhile he can kiss everything goodbye: DS, iPhone, Mathletics, school, bike, ripstick, skateboard, etc. There is a way out of this suffering however … and the way is to make the decision to be less argumentative, more polite, choose to be a nice person, and to start behaving as part of this team. When he turns the corner, he will get all of his things reinstated, get rewarded, and enjoy a nice peaceful family.
I typically don’t advocate such extreme or such negative tactics. But, OMG, what an improvement!
The entire mood of the family has since lifted. It’s been so positive that Wills and Beth have started getting up early and making their own breakfast (and ours) … over the course of a week. Because breakfast has been a breeze, we’ve also been getting to school on time. Violin sessions have been a pleasure. Conversations have been less strained. And his great attitude means we can enjoy his wicked sense of humour and his company again. Whew.
I asked him how he did it. He replied simply “I didn’t want to lose any more of my privileges and I wanted to get my privileges back.” Get them back he did, and he’s started earning money again for all the good work he’s doing. Mind you, not for the chores he’s got to do — which he’s approach rather well.
See the follow up to this post No Smacking Taken to a Higher Level and a related article Positive Self Image for Kids.
A+ for effort, boy.
Cheers,
Colin
- Discipline Guide by KeepKidsHealthy.com
- The No Smacking Guide to Discipline
- The No Spanking Page
- Physical Discipline for Toddlers and Kids
- No Smacking Child Discipline Law
- No Smacking for Children Under Three
- 3 Reasons Why Discipline is Harder than Punishment
- Ministry of Discipline: Nurturing Discipline Policy
- No Smacking Week
- Hand Behind Back
–
The Original SuperParent
Blog | Favourites | Surveys | Have Your Say
The Original SuperParent 
