I Discipline My Children
I don't know why, but this week, my 5 year old daughter has decided that bed time is up to her, not me. I've never really had a problem with getting her to go to bed before, she was always very good about it. Suddenly, this week, every night it's been more and more of a struggle.
Usually, all I have to do is tell her to get ready for bed, and she does, and then tell her to go to bed, and she does.
Monday, she was dragging her feet, but no out and out defiance. I let it slide, because it's so rarely a problem with her. Tuesday, I got a little bit of mouth, but one good pop on her behind got her moving.
Wednesday I got more mouth, and I wound up putting her across my knee for about 10 or 15 smacks with my hand on her bare butt. That did the trick for both that night and Thursday.
But, then came Friday night, and she was back to dragging her feet when I told her to get ready for bed. I gave her one good hard swat and told her she was out of warnings. After I helped her finish getting ready for bed, I told her it was time to go to sleep, and she just ignored me. Didn't backtalk, didn't argue, just walked away from me.
Well, that was past the last straw, and I took a moment to compose myself, picked her up, took her downstairs to the kitchen, grabbed my slotted wooden spoon, and I tanned her tiny little butt. After letting her sob for a couple minutes, I moved her from laying across my lap to sitting on it, I gave her a big hug, told I her how much I loved her, but that she needed to listen to me. Then I carried her upstairs to her room, hugged her again, pulled her panties up, tucked her in with a kiss, and left her to cry herself to sleep.
I don't know why all of sudden bedtime became a problem for her this week, but I think I helped her solve that problem. I hope so, anyway.
Usually, all I have to do is tell her to get ready for bed, and she does, and then tell her to go to bed, and she does.
Monday, she was dragging her feet, but no out and out defiance. I let it slide, because it's so rarely a problem with her. Tuesday, I got a little bit of mouth, but one good pop on her behind got her moving.
Wednesday I got more mouth, and I wound up putting her across my knee for about 10 or 15 smacks with my hand on her bare butt. That did the trick for both that night and Thursday.
But, then came Friday night, and she was back to dragging her feet when I told her to get ready for bed. I gave her one good hard swat and told her she was out of warnings. After I helped her finish getting ready for bed, I told her it was time to go to sleep, and she just ignored me. Didn't backtalk, didn't argue, just walked away from me.
Well, that was past the last straw, and I took a moment to compose myself, picked her up, took her downstairs to the kitchen, grabbed my slotted wooden spoon, and I tanned her tiny little butt. After letting her sob for a couple minutes, I moved her from laying across my lap to sitting on it, I gave her a big hug, told I her how much I loved her, but that she needed to listen to me. Then I carried her upstairs to her room, hugged her again, pulled her panties up, tucked her in with a kiss, and left her to cry herself to sleep.
I don't know why all of sudden bedtime became a problem for her this week, but I think I helped her solve that problem. I hope so, anyway.
Age:
41-45
,
Female
16
responses
