I've never laid a hand on my son, nor do I ever plan to start! This week has been pretty tough. He's been talking back and was even busted in a few lies. I put him in time out for a bit after I explained to him the reason why.
What are some ways you all discipline your kids? Thanks.
Explanation, time out, confiscation of computer time, fining pocket money - depends on the severity of the bad behaviour, whether the culprit owned up before being discovered, whether s/he apologised voluntarily and whether it was a repeat offence.
Explanation, time out, confiscation of computer time, fining pocket money - depends on the severity of the bad behaviour, whether the culprit owned up before being discovered, whether s/he apologised voluntarily and whether it was a repeat offence.
Those are good ideas. He "owned up" before being discovered, but I found out the next day he didn't tell me the whole story. He then went on to do the same thing I asked him NOT to do, the day after. I appreciate your input 
One of the things that I eventually learnt is that there is no extrapolation. If
it was wrong on Tuesday, it doesn't mean
it will be wrong on Thursday - unless you tell him that
it is
always wrong.
It can be a bit like computer programming - miss out just one or two words or use the wrong tense (that WAS wrong, instead of that IS wrong - always) and the whole ticking-off gets forgotten, or filed away as something to do with a specific situation.
Well I thought I had expressed that to him because I said you should "Never" do that. Kids are always trial and error
He ... was even busted in a few lies.
Lies as in 'lies' or as in 'suppressing/avoiding the truth'?
My kids respond well to the idea of responsibility. We talk about my responsibilities that I don't really want to do, such as laundry, and consider that they also have responsibilities that are just as important. Sort of "This is my job, a mommy job, and this is your job, a kid job. We all have to do our jobs so that the family works well." Respect is on everybody's job list, I don't disrespect them and I will not tolerate them disrespecting me. Oh, and forgiveness is also on everybody's job list, because we all screw up sometimes. Yes, lists. The more complete and explicit the better.
Of course, they sometimes need a little time in their room to cool off before any sort of talking can begin. And I let them decide how long. When they feel ready to talk, we talk. If they are still distraught, I send them to cool off a bit more. We also walk through the events that brought me into the picture and how they might be self-policing in the future. That is, after all, the ultimate goal -- self-discipline.
Oh, just realized that I didn't say ages. My youngest is about to be 8 and the oldest is 13.
I can remember some rules very well that my father just mentioned when telling some story about what had happened at his office that day. The rules were very straightforward but the intent of the told stories was not to emphasize those rules. They sort of stuck, though.
SHnoing, do you have some insight? Ahhh avoiding the truth.... isn't it something that my honest john is honest - but boy does he avoid his responsibility for things, supressing, it's a problem for us...
Tigger---- The distinction between is and was is clear to me, very key... also the word always is hard, the trouble is with the variables and the situational reality...