They have an excellent relationship with a healthy amount of rough and tumble, wrestling and general bloke-ish mucking about, but I can sometimes "fast forward" in my mind to a time when as a teen, this behaviour may cause more problems than fun.
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| Ieuan in defiant mode |
Caitlin will mutter, say "ok" and stomp off to her bedroom.
She is 7 but already behaves like a "pre-teen".
Ieuan will instigate a face off and is remarkably stubborn.
As a mum, I have to be honest and say that I find the issue of discipline difficult.
The very word makes some people's hackles rise but I see discipline as "education to avoid consequences" - that is, teaching kids that fitting in with what society expects is important and that their actions may have unfavourable consequences.
The simplest example is that running out into the road may result in injury.
But when it comes to family 'rules', the area is a lot greyer.
There are times when you have to question whether what you are asking is unreasonable.
We have never sat down and written out family rules which I think is something we need to do.
It is difficult, isn't it, balancing the needs and, indeed, rights of the child, whilst maintaining a happy, functioning family unit that allows everybody space to grow.
The methods we generally use to instil discipline tend to be sending the child to their room or withholding toys / iPads or pocket money but the effect of these is short term at best.
We tried the 'naughty step' which never really worked.
The kids have both had a slap on the back of the leg once or twice when particularly naughty but this made me feel so terrible (and it had so little effect) that we do not use smacking as a deterrent.
I was smacked as a child and I'm pretty sure my behaviour never improved as a result!
This is one of the few issues that the husband and I argue about.
He says that I am not consistent with my parenting and can be much too lenient.
I think he is much too strict sometimes and does not always know when the challenge is made in fun.
He says, probably rightly, that bad behaviour should be nipped in the bud whilst we can still influence behaviour; that by the time Ieuan reaches his teens, it will be too late.
And Ieuan is a good kid.
His behaviour is generally good.
He is doing well at school.
How much more difficult must it be for those parents who are struggling with children who are more defiant?
I am well aware that having a partner is a great help here.
It must be a nightmare for single parents who constantly have to play the role of "good cop / bad cop".
So, if physical discipline is a no-no, if negotiation falls on deaf ears and when faced with a defiant young lad, what do you do?
How can you avoid damaging fragile self confidence and self esteem without allowing boys to run amok?
Do you have a set of family rules? Please share.
