Monday, August 10, 2009

The Peace Corp has NOTHING on this job!

This is indeed "The Toughest Job You'll Ever Love". William is testing with a passion I only recognize as my coming from my 23 chromosomes. He is hitting, and almost hitting. He is pushing. He is flinging himself to the ground and screaming. He is refusing to comply with the simplest requests, and pushing my buttons like crazy! He knows he is not supposed to touch electrical cords and so he will look at them, say "No,No!", look at you and then touch them! It's like we are starting all over again when it comes to discipline. We were in a nice honeymoon phase and now it's like we are going through a rocky divorce! I think he is old enough for real time outs now, if they only last a minute. We figured out a spot to do it in finally after much debate. We didn't want to use his crib, since it is such a nice place for him right now and he loves it. We have a little chair and put it in the corner of our entryway. There is nothing he can hurt or play with there so I think it will work.... We shall see.

6 comments:

Ms. Leigh said...

OH man, tough times. I can only imagine how tired you are at the end of the day.
Booker is insistent upon go for the electrical cords all the time, I mean ALL the time, I could take him to another room and he will go right back over there to the original one. This happens for atleast an hour at at a time. I hope he learns and doesn't relapse when he gets older.

Little Blessings said...

Hang in there and be strong! It is a ton of work but worth it I promise. My kids have never really done the whole electrical thing. Although they certainly test in other areas constantly. And if I haven't said it before I will say it again. Try and watch the Super Nanny for her time-out technique. It is the one that I use and it seems to work great. Just requires consistency!

Kelly said...

Do you think he really gets the concept of time out yet? For example, If I tell him to sit there in the chair till the timer goes off, do you think he CAN understand that yet, or do you think he is too little? Should I do it in a pack and play instead? Does Lucy get the concept yet?

Julie said...

I love Super Nanny! She has tamed kids that have some major issues with power. And if Pudd is old enough to know he is being rotten, he is old enough for the time out. You are just as stubborn as he is so show him what's what!

Ms. Leigh said...

I think he will understand, I remember Sam saying she would hold lucy in place without looking at her because she didn't understand how to stay put, but needed to understand she was in time out.

Little Blessings said...

I know that Lucy gets the whole timeout thing. I assume that once my kids can look me in the eye and continue on with the naughty behavior that they are making a choice to do what is wrong. I did hold Lucy in place for the first month or so and sometimes I still have to. (this morning was a prime example of that) She may not understand they whole psychology behind the timeout but she certainly gets that she is no longer getting her way. Also it just cements that I am in charge and not her. Especially with the whole hitting thing. As for the timer thing, no, he won't completely get it. But it will come in time. I guarantee that the next baby will get it long before Will. A younger sibling learns by example more often than not. It will be an uphill battle with Will but seriously worth fighting. Just hold him if you have to and don't look at him for the first few months. Kids are smart. They catch on pretty quick that timeout is something to be avoided!