I love me some Tuesday! Ahhh. Elle let me sleep until nearly 8am today (sorry, Nicole, I don’t mean to rub it in). We have a pretty low key day ahead of us. Laundry is the main item on the agenda. Exciting, right?
Anyway, lately we have hit a few parenting speed bumps. Elle is testing the boundaries & I keep catching myself wanting to count at her. You know, the ol’give a threat and count to 3. Ugh! I hate the counting thing. My parents counted at me, but we don’t really feel like we should give Elle a 3 second warning. Elle, go ahead and continue doing what you want for 2.5 seconds and then obey me. It would be lovely if she were to respond when we first tell her something.
Realizing that at this point in her development she is all about herself, it has been a bit of a struggle. And every stinking time that she resists me, I want to start counting. UGH! I get so frustrated with myself. I know that I’m doing it because I really just want her to obey & this gives her a few extra seconds to obey. Well, not anymore. We are buckling down. Starting today, if she doesn’t respond immediately she will see consequences. It will be awful at first, but will be worth it in the long run. Right? Umm, right?
We haven’t had any issues yet this morning, but I’m sure the moment I hit publish I will be tested. Ok, so here I go…PUBLISH.
Kellogues 
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 10:33 am |
As a parent you ought only to fight the fights that are worth fighting. This one sounds like one of those kind. 🙂
I’ll be praying for you.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 12:11 pm |
I fight the same urge and hate it. It’s worth it now, though, since you’ll supposedly have an easier kid later, right?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 12:16 pm |
Stick to your guns! Three is the hardest age we’ve hit in Kelsey’s 13 years, but the more consistant you can be now, the more payoff you will have later.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 12:26 pm |
Scenario #1:
Elle just sent me a death threat…what do you do?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 1:46 pm |
Scott, um…I HATE roll playing. Seriously, more than anything in the whole world.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 4:55 pm |
Funny. I have a ticking box on my porch with your address on it too. Hmmm.
Seriously, you sound just like James Dobson. He doesn’t give strikes either. And I thought we were tough …
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 7:12 pm |
Argh… we are totally here, too. Lately I’ve felt like I might as well be talking to a fence post when I tell Will or Aiden something, for all the immediate response I get. Your post inspired me (when I first read it earlier today) to do the same. This afternoon was tough, but we made it, and had some good talks, too. Let me know how it goes.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 7:16 pm |
Well so…..it’s Tuesday evening how did it go?
Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 2:45 am |
I want to write a song that goes like this…
Obey the first time, not the second or the third. Obey the first time….”
perhaps you can get Joe to take a crack at it.