Today's topic is discipline, and it just so happens that I came across a very interesting cartoon on Facebook today. I hope I"m not repeating myself with this post, but after blogging as many years as I have, it happens.
As a parent, I can say that discipline takes discipline on the part of the parent! Consistency really is the key. A teacher I had in college likened parents to postage stamp machines and slot machines. If you put a coin in a slot machine, sometimes you will win the prize. More often than not, when you put in a coin you don't win. But that occasional win makes it worth trying again. Some parents are like that. If the child whines or throws a temper tantrum, the parent will give in. But like my teacher taught, we should be like a postage stamp machine. When you put in a coin, you get a stamp in return. If you put in a coin and don't get a stamp in return, you most likely won't waste another coin trying to get stamps. You will assume that the machine is broken. If a child knows that whining and temper tantrums don't work with their parents, they won't keep trying.
I think my mother must have occasionally given in when I was a child because I knew that I could try to get her to change her mind. My friend who lived across the street came from a family of 10 children. Her mother must have learned a thing or two from her 10 kids, because she was very strict in her rules. Sometimes we would ask if my friend could spend the night at my house. If her mother said no, I would encourage her to try asking her again. But my friend would tell me that when her mother said no, that was the end of the discussion. I couldn't believe she couldn't convince her mother to give in. But my friend told me that if she were to nag her mother, she would get in trouble. That's a smart mother. Like I said, discipline takes discipline on the part of the parent. We have to stay strong and firm. And we have to trust that consequences really do work. Even with my older children, I have found through experience that when I assign a consequence to a certain action, then follow through with that consequence, my children learn quickly that bad behavior doesn't pay. I'm sure that once I get this perfected my kids will be grown, and I'll have grandkids. By then I will be an old softy, and they will come to my house specifically because they can get away with things. :)
Check out what the other consortium members have to say about discipline! :)
Now go see what you think about the other consortium members' back sides. :P
Rummuser, Anu, Ashkok, Gaelikka, Grannymar, , Padmum, Magpie11, andAkanksha,Will Knot, Maria the Silver Fox, Anki, Nema Noor Paul Plain Joe, and Rohit
and The Old Fossil, and our newest member MAXI! and last, but not least SHACKMAN! :)
5 comments:
I like the poster. Elly will tell you that when Mammy said No, she meant No! I think it worked, we are not the best of friends.
I like your poster too and wish it was a billboard. :0)
Grannymar, that is an excellent question. I hate to disappoint, but the upper levels were basically just verandas where you could stand and look down. There was a center section that was just elevators (used only for the disabled). The lower levels had a restaurant and some gift shops. Kind of disappointing. The story I read online said that there was a building here where a monk came one night. They invited him to spend the night. He was grateful, so painted a crane on the wall. Every night, the crane would come alive and dance. To show their appreciation to the monk, they built this tower. Hmmm...
Where does the buck stop? Who should discipline children? By and large, parents and teachers have abdicated and present day children, with exceptions surely, but by and large, grow up with scant respect for old fashioned values.
I heartily agree with you. I think what most new parents don't realize is that you have to start that discipline from the very beginning, not try to institute it at age 5 or 8! LOL
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