Discipline Mistakes

Last night, as I wrapped up some work (ok, so I was playing around editing pictures), I came across an article listing the 7 Discipline Mistakes ALL Moms Make.

Given two different situations that happened around here this week, I quickly clicked on the link and began reading.

The list was simple.

In short, Moms . . .

•are too negative.
•expect too much from our kids.
•model behavior we don’t want to see.
•intervene when our kids simply annoy us.
•are all talk and no action.
•use time-out ineffectively.
•assume what works for one kid will work for another.

But, the list should have included an 8th discipline mistake — the one both Hubby and I have made time and time (and time) again.

Moms (and dads) can’t keep a straight face while attempting to discipline a child.

Somewhere along the line, I missed out on the ability to keep my sense of humor at bay whilst trying to teach my children right from wrong … trying to show them how to behave … and trying to impart life lessons like why “even plastic bats are not good disciplinary weapons against annoying little brothers.”

There are just times when my “Mom Face” leaves me — stranded — with comedic lights dancing in my eyes and my entire body shaking with mirth.

In those moments, the kidlets know. They know they’ve “won.” They made Mommy (and or Daddy) laugh . . . nothing bad is going to happen.

(sigh)

There were two situations recently that left me weak — ducking to hide my head on the off-chance I could camouflage my laughter.

First, Cason learned a valuable “get out of doing X, Y, or Z” tool.

•Don’t want to do something Mommy is telling you to do? Fake sleep.
That’s right; my 18 month old smartie-pants decided the best way to keep from having to help pick up toys was to lie down on the floor and fake sleep. He even faked snoring.

The moment I heard that snore — a semi-convincing one at best — I was done. And, when he heard my giggles, one little eye peeped open … and then he grinned triumphantly.

(oy)

Second, Lucas learned to use “magic tricks.”

•Don’t want to get caught with an item you’re not supposed to have? Play the old “Is It In This Hand or That Hand” trick and then stuff the item in your underwear.
Kid. You. Not. This child, after getting caught climbing up a cabinet to get bb's for the bb gun, declared he was going to do a “magic trick” and hid his hands behind his back, showing his hands one at a time when asked. Of course, each time, the displayed hand was empty.

But, I KNEW he had the things and ordered him to show both hands. The Little gentleman obeyed and put both hands out in front of him.

The box of bb's was gone. Had I been mistaken? Had he NOT gotten to them? Was my Mommy-Radar failing me too?

Flustered, I sent him to eat his dinner. As he walked to his chair, his hands folded properly behind his back, I heard it. The sound of the stolen box of bb's falling to the floor.

He quickly looked at me, guilt all over his face, and — when asked where he had put that box — answered meekly, “In my undies.”

And . . . I never saw him do it. No idea when he made that switch.

But he saw Mommy have to walk OUT of the room because of my laughter.

He saw his Daddy have to dive onto the couch to stifle his guffaws.

He saw that, like his fake-snoring brother, he had won the battle.

(sigh)

They’re only 5 and not even 2; we have many, many, many more years of naughty escapades ahead of us.

Ye gads. Two smart kidlets against two parents who laugh too much.

This may not end well.