Good Mom Day...

Well, some days its like "what was God thinking!" ..by making me a mother of these kids. Because, there are days when I SOOO dont have a clue what I am doing! Most days, in fact :)

But, today I tried some creative disciplining and it worked! Yeah!

By the way, if you have a toddler then you have to get the book, "Creative Correction" by Lisa Whelchel (Blair, from Facts of Life). Its a great book with creative ideas on how to really touch your kids' heart AND get them to obey, besides spanking or yelling at them all the time :)

So, we had to go to Walmart..yeah, I know you moms of mulitple kids know where this is going!...a production, to be sure! So, after reading up on some creative methods of discipling/motivating while out and about I settled on one I thought would work for Ty. It did, and so now I must share!

I gave him a handful of coins that equaled 50 cents, told him to put them in his pocket. If he still had that money by the time we got the check out, he would have enough to buy himself a treat (a double reward, because he also loves to pay for stuff at the check out line!). However, if he threw a fit, or cried to get out of the basket, or grabbed stuff off shelves, or tripped the old man with a cane, or pulled the bottom apple from the apple pyramid, or knocked over the mop bucket down the dairy isle, or dumped a dozen eggs out onto the floor (true story)...you get the idea, then I took a coin away. If I took enough coins away, he would not have enough for a treat.

It worked! He chose french fries from MD's (in the store), which was more than he had but the lesson was not lost on him! I decided to keep the "value of money" lesson for another day :)

He was great! Though, at times he did need alittle gentle reminder of what the goal was. I hope it works next time I am crazy enough to go the store with both of them :)

Another thing we do, is to "practice" obeying. The first time I did this was when we were doing yard work in the front yard and he kept running into the street to get the ball.

I took him to the edge of the road, threw the ball into the street, and then told him that when that happens to STOP, call mommy to help you get it, and DO NOT GO INTO THE STREET!

Then, we did it over, and over, and over again until I thought he was starting to get bored with it. The next time the ball rolled, I watched him start to run, stop, and turn and ask me for help.

Yesterday, we used this when I was trying to make him understand to stop immediately when I called his name. So, he would turn is back to me and walk away, I would say "Tyler!" he would stop, grin and come running. He thought it was funny (so he said) and I hope made more of an impression than a time out!

So, lest you think I am wonder mom or think I am ...these glorious moments of sunshine through the clouds, were proceeded by a 1 1/2 hour nap battle! Oh well, cant win them all!