For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for October 21, 2011

WHOP !!!

So now Christopher is riding; got his wish, but now Mom’s hugging and carrying THE BABY. Anybody want to guess what comes next? Like maybe "(squeal) carry ME!! Don’t wanna ride! or something like that?

Oh yeah, let the kid do whatever he wants! And we wonder where this sense of entitlement comes from.

Only if mom allows it. Tell Chris he’s too big for the carriage and he needs to walk to exercise.

Old axiom: A pat on the back is good, but sometimes a little further down gets better results.

Sibling rivalry starts as soon as the older one figures out they’re not the “baby of the family” anymore…trust me on this one!

I agree that giving in is what causes the problems. Spanking doesn’t solve problems or teach discipline; being a strong parent does. I never gave into any of the whining. I made my kids walk everywhere as soon as they hit 2 years old. None of that double stroller nonsense.

Childhood is very short!

Swat his behind, and tell him no sweets for that day, unless he behaves, and helps push the carraige like a ‘big boy’.

A spank is sometimes appropriate, but generally not as a knee-jerk response. Giving in to whining or fits is NEVER okay, though a good parent knows when to give in when requests are reasonable and reasonably made.

I don’t think they are, man.

My daughter once observed a temper tantrum getting results and so tried it herself. I simply picked her up, covered her mouth, and carried her out to the car. There I said, “That didn’t work, did it?” She agreed it didn’t and we never had that problem again. A simple, “Do you want to go to the car?” was sufficient. Minimum violence.

Okay kiddo you have one minute to stop throwing a fit. If you are not done in that time, you will be sent to time out and then since you had the energy to throw a fit, you have the energy to do work. (Then I’d assign 3 or 4 age apporpriate chores, for exapmle helping mommy fold clean laundry. He would fold socks.) No kid wants to do extra chores…I know I didn’t.

This is the time to remind him that being a big brother has it’s priviledges. HE can swing on the swings at the park. He can run fast and he can give his mommy a big hug. And he can have a hot chocolate when they get home. All of which this new little baby can’t do. That likely will get him to think about the new little baby is a much diiferent way :) [And avoid a spanking as well.]

I have a cousin who stayed in diapers and started talking baby talk when his baby brother was born. It’s called: infantile regression. They grow out of it.

All that was needed was a good, stern NO. IF a temper tantrum ensued, a good solid smack on the behind would nip that in the bud.

And so it begins . . . Christopher has now learned that all he has to do is whine and cry (and maybe even throw in a “Now that you’ve got a NEW baby, you don’t love me anymore!” for good measure to really amp up the guilt factor!) and he’ll be able to get anything he wants, anytime he wants it! Way to go, Mom!