H has been home sick this week. As a mom, sometimes its hard to determine when your child is sick enough to stay home and when its time to send them to school. H has a problem with honesty and so I have a hard time trusting him. This is something that we are working on. He challenges everything I say and do.
For example, this morning I told him that if he was going to stay home from school he was expected to sleep in until 8:30, eat healthy and no GameCube. I had to run a quick errand and he wanted to stay home. Before I left I explained that if I came home and he had been playing GameCube I would take the controls away. This is something I do quite often at our house. Last summer I boxed it up for 4 months which I plan to do again this summer. Anyway, after I threatened to take away the GameCube if he disobeyed his reply was "FOR HOW LONG?". Yikes! As if he has to decide if the punishment outweighs the reward. This is something he does to me about 90 times a day. I call it the PAIN GAME. How big is the pain? If its not too terrible then I will "Do what I want"... a frequent statement from H's little mouth. Oh, how will I ever mold this little guy into a responsible adult. That is what we are trying to do here. I often remind myself that I'm raising my kids to be responsible adults someday.
On a good note, he didn't touch the GameCube while I was out. Maybe, there is hope!
It can be heard. It sounds like boys everywhere are pretty much the same.
ReplyDeleteI do "writing" now for punishments. Depending on how bad the behavior was, they have to write lines that go with the mistake make. So like, if S told me a lie, and he is 7 He would have to write, " I love to tell the truth", 20 times. I try to keep it in the positive. For my 11 year old, he has to do 50 10 100 lines depending on the problem. S does 20 to 40 lines.
It has worked wonders!! It's a time out with positive reinforcement with practice in handwriting! They DON'T love it and it can be done at church, in the car, anywhere when they need an immediate punishment that is quiet!
I mix it up too with punishments of extra jobs etc... but the writing keeps me from getting mad or yelling. that is why I like it. I just say, " do you need a writing assignment?' and the behavior instantly changes! Usually.
Thanks Melissa! I think I will try it.
ReplyDeleteHe sounds like me when I was growing up. My motto "Better to beg forgiveness than ask permission." :)
ReplyDeleteI love that Hunter. Always wanting to have a good time, not matter the cost. I like Melissa's idea. That is pretty clever.
ReplyDeletemy boy is addicted to electronic games. Last summer we unplugged everything but now that it's cold out we have it back in. I don't know if that's good or not.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to know of the pain game, and that every family is working at it!
you're doing great.