Drastic Measures

Trying to raise a child is not easy, multiply that by 4 and you'll build up enough frustration to incite an LA style riot in your kitchen.

It's difficult with all the challenges today to raise a child right, with morals, standards, esteem, leadership qualities and still develop an individuality to rival their peers. It's hard to give them a standout edge that still allows them to be a decent little human being. I want them to have morals. I don't want them to have to rely on anyone. I need them to be able to take care of themselves. I want them to be compassionate, but not push overs. I want them to be able to see a clear line between right and wrong. I want them to know how to love and be loved.

I think that I might be doing it all wrong sometimes. This morning they aren't listening to reason, the shrillness to my nagging voice, the threats. Time outs aren't working, shouting has begun. The war of the wills is in full swing in this house this morning. I want to cry, but I won't. I can't let them see that they have won this battle.

I sent them upstairs so that I could have some peace, but their father sent them right back down because he is trying to sleep. So instead I stuck their dirty noses in separate corners so that I could strategize. I decided that I would call them over one by one and ask them a few questions.

How old are you?
When were you born? (Throw them off their "game")
Where were you when I told you to clean up? (Make them think, they don't know that this is a rhetorical question)
And what did you think that clean up meant?
And what did you do instead?
Do you think that I appreciate that?
What would you do if I went upstairs after you cleaned up your room and I just dumped all the toys you had just picked up back onto the floor? And then I kicked them around a little bit and then when back downstairs to watch tv?
How do you think it makes me feel when you do that to me?

And I repeated this process for the first 3.

Odin is a bit different.

Clean up or take a nap.

Now they are working, do I need to constantly remind them, yes. However, the second time I have to remind them they pick out their own punishment and on their 3rd warning they have to do it.

So next warning today and Jaxom will be cleaning the cat box my hand, Brenna will be loosing her Squinkies to the dumpster, and Gunnar will be sleeping in his own bed tonight. It has been 15 minutes...no reminders...how long can this last?

If all I teach them today is that I mean business, I'll call it a victory.