I’m sure we’ve covered this subject in a roundabout way before, but let’s get down to business; Discipline: What works? I just spent my evening yelling, scowling and punishing only to be mocked by a sassy three year old. Finally I blew my top and carried him up the stairs (the ones with the cute family photos) kicking and screaming, brushed his teeth for him, striped him, aggressively put on a Pull-Up and a tank top on his little body (it’s hot in NYC tonight!) and tossed him into bed. It’s the second time I’ve had to do this in less than ten days. It seems like it’s the only thing that really hits home for him.

Time outs are a mere vacation on the stairs and taking away a toy, ha! which one! It seems like he’s hardly attached to one particular item that it even makes a difference what gets taken away. Oh and 1,2,3 Magic, don’t even get me started. That’s our main discipline method at the moment and it works about 50% of the time. Right now I’m at a loss for what actually works. And really, let’s be honest, does anything work? Or is this just a process of long term reiteration of one particular disciplinary action? If so when does it take hold, when is it truly understood by the child that there are consequences for bad behavior?

Should I give up mad face if it’s not working? It’s gonna give me wrinkles, I just know it. I hate being nasty and mean, I hate yelling all the time, but when you’re being driven to the brink it’s so easy to just loose control and lash out. Do I need a mantra? I know I’m asking for a miracle but how long does it go on for and if you let these kids get their way are you just setting up an entire future of bad behavior? Or is it really just a phase?

Just so you have an idea of what kind of behaviors I’m dealing with…tonight it was him acting out while making cards for his teachers. Tomorrow is teacher appreciation day and I thought we would do a little art project. He wanted no part of it and I was trying to tell him that it was important to do things for others ect. He was dumping out markers and pencils everywhere, running off, teetering on the chair legs and sticking stickers over stickers on the cards on purpose. Then there was dinner. He showed excitement over spaghetti and then when the plate was placed in front of him he pushed it away sloshing spaghetti all over the place and screaming that he didn’t want it. This infuriated me. After a TO then there was the battle of eating dinner. I never give in on this and thats when I started planting the seed of him going to bed early. It worked for a little bit until he sassed me and threw his cup on the floor. That was it. I snapped and you know the rest.

I always forget that Lola is still relatively new to our lives and that he must harbor some jealousy. I am fully aware of his age but I want him to be good so badly regardless of age. The defiant behavior makes me so darn mad at him and I want to always be loving him, not screaming at him. Hate breeds hate people. My new tag line is ‘Have Kids. Keep Your Cool’ but I’m losing the battle guys. Please, I just need to know if there is something that I’m not trying that will get through to him. Do I ignore? Do I hug it out? Do I make him wear a dunce hat? What! Works!?!

According to an old Ecuadorian wives trick I’m having a girl. I found this out last night from Fritz’s Ecuadorian babysitter. Here’s how it works…You need a friend (not sure if they need to be Ecuadorian or not) to get the following items: 2 pillows, 1 knife, 1 spoon. While pregnant friend waits in one room, friend sets up each utensil under each of the pillows. Next step, the pregnant friend enters room and is asked to choose a pillow and sit on it. If pregnant person sits on the pillow with the spoon she is having a girl, if she sits on the pillow with the knife she is having a boy. Simple as that. I sat on the spoon. Now you try…even if you already know, I’d like to test it’s accuracy.