How to Discipline Your Kids

Kids. Can’t live with ‘em. Can’t live without ‘em. What parent hasn’t felt this way? Some days you pull your hair out in frustration with their behavior, other days they’re the best child on the planet and you can’t hug and kiss them enough.

Take my almost 10-year-old daughter for example. She is a VERY stubborn child. When my husband and I tell her to do something, she procrastinates with the best of them. Or she doesn’t do it at all! Needless to say, when a child doesn’t do what they’re told, parents get frustrated. VERY frustrated.

One day I was venting my parenting frustrations with my mom. She told me what I already knew,

“She is a very stubborn girl and you will never change that in her.”

What she said next, however, I didn’t know and has made all the difference in the world.

“You have to get out in front of her behavior by telling her beforehand if she doesn’t do what she’s told, there will be consequences. Then tell her what the consequences will be and follow through.”

CONSEQUENCES? Duh! Why didn’t I think of that?

While at first it was hard for my husband and I to remember this “new” form of discipline, the times we have done it worked like a charm! Just today I had to threaten (is that the right word?) her with consequences when she was throwing a fit over something I was trying to help her with. All I had to say was,

“If I hear you complain one more time, you are not playing with the neighbor kids at all today. I mean it Allison! You will NOT play with the kids! You can just sit in your room this weekend.”

This may sound harsh to some parents, but she physically straighened up, eyes widened and she said,

“Yes, Mom!”

HA! It worked. No yelling. No screaming. No elevated blood pressure. This is awesome!

Since this method works so well for us, now I’m curious how other parents discipline their children. I’d love to hear from you!

LESSON LEARNED: Listen to your mom, sometimes she knows best!