coolest kids ever

Quite easily done

I didn’t think I’d be saying this but this whole discipline thing has been getting easier now that the kids are a little bigger. For one, I hardly have to deal with them screaming and melting dramatically into the floor anymore.

Right now they’re at this wonderful age where they’re old enough to understand reason yet too young to do the defiant eye-roll and stomp off while raining curses at me under their breath. Oh, I am perfectly certain that the day will come because I was once the master of the killer eye-roll. If my kids are anything like me, I’m probably doomed so I’m just glad I still have time to figure out what I’m going to do when that day comes.

These days, I employ a 2-pronged approach to discipline. For misdemeanors like snatching toys or refusing to pack their room, they face the wall for 5 minutes. After the period of quiet reflection, they will usually calm down and wake up their idea. But for insolence and blatant disobedience, they face the wall and then have their privileges revoked – usually their favorite show on TV or their daily quota of gummies.

While I was bathing Kirsten yesterday, Tru came to ask if he could waterbomb my toilet with a handful of clear plastic bags. Um, let’s see, NO.

“Ok, fine,” he mumbled.

I had a feeling he was up to no good so I yelled after him, “I’m serious, don’t do it. Keep the bags. We’ll do waterbombs another day.”

By the time Kirsten was done, I found him in my toilet filling up the bags with water. For that, I told him he wasn’t allowed to watch Jake and the Neverland Pirates that evening. When the show started, he begged and pleaded but to no avail. I was sticking to my guns. His eyes filled up with little drops of tears when he saw Kirsten watching it, but he forced himself not to cry.

“Would you like to sit on the couch with momma to read a book?” I asked, not sure if he would throw a hissy fit or scream or flail.

He peered at his sister longingly from outside the door, then held his blankie and nodded, still with tears in his eyes. For 10 minutes, he sat on my lap and read a book while trying not to pay any attention to the happy piratey songs in the background. I knew it was excruciating for him and he was really trying to be good about it.

“Tru, you did really well so you get early parole for good behavior. There’s still 20 minutes of Jake left, you can go watch now.”

“THANK YOU MOMMY!” he grabbed my neck in a bear hug before running off.

After having my butt kicked by parenting for so long, it was nice to feel like a rock star for a change.

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12 Comments

  • Reply Daisy January 17, 2012 at 6:33 pm

    Discipline is tricky. I am glad you decided to commend Truett for his effort. He’s such a good boy and I think it’s reflection of your parenting. ;)

    • Reply Daphne January 26, 2012 at 12:02 pm

      I’m mostly a softie at discipline, hopefully they don’t grow up to exploit it.

  • Reply SengkangBabies January 17, 2012 at 8:13 pm

    parole haha, that’s a good one :)
    SengkangBabies´s last post ..Why do you need an External Flash ?

  • Reply sgrmse. January 18, 2012 at 12:17 am

    parole! haha, i like that. :D :D too cute. you’re a stellar mom! stay gold.

  • Reply Fang January 18, 2012 at 10:39 am

    Seriously, you told him in those exact words? “….early parole….”
    His england gonna be powerful! :)

    • Reply Daphne January 26, 2012 at 12:04 pm

      Hahaha yeah I told him early parole. Sometimes he stares at me blankly when I talk but there’s the chance he might pick it up.

      But he definitely understood the bit about going to watch his show.

  • Reply Andrea January 18, 2012 at 11:10 am

    Way to go Tru!!!!! Super proud of you!!!!!!! n to you too mommy who knows when to grant early paroles :)

  • Reply Elaine January 18, 2012 at 9:45 pm

    Whoa! That’s impressive. You’re kick-ass at this discipline thing!

  • Reply Bun Bun Makeup Tips January 20, 2012 at 2:13 am

    Awww… that forlorn look… but why does Tru like to waterbomb your toilet with water bags? As in the entire toilet? Just throw in all directions?!?
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    • Reply Daphne January 26, 2012 at 12:05 pm

      Just throw randomly around for fun, I guess. Most of it ends up on the floor but it’s still very messy and I have to pick up all the bags after that. I used to like waterbombing things as a kid so maybe it’s hereditary.

  • Reply Ruth January 20, 2012 at 2:48 pm

    Ah.. the disciplining. I’m still clueless in this department and feel hopeless sometimes when faced with tantrums from my two year-old. Argh. Hope I can manage this phase well for the sake of my boy.
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    • Reply Daphne January 26, 2012 at 12:07 pm

      It’s a lot of trial and error I think. And we probably get it wrong as much as we get it right. Hopefully we all make it through unscathed.

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