We have watched as she toyed with the idea of controlling her light. She'd done it once and then was given too many chances during her nap. 3 to be exact. I should have spanked her yesterday...but I didn't want to. It's so backwards.
Regardless, I opened the door this morning and that little thing was so busted. "I sorry, Mama," before I could get a word out of my mouth. She knows what's expected and chooses the other. It breaks me. After the spanking (yes, we spank and we see the goodness of God's design through doing so), she sunk into my arms, a puddle of tears and repentance. Let's hope the light issue is behind us.
I'm really having a hard time with this. Do I teach and remind and forgive over and over in hopes that she will eventually comply with the rules? I'm intentionally submitting her to a position in which I know she is tempted to disobey. Clearly she understands our expectations. Or do I go the easy route and just move the crib down a few inches. Help a girl out. Please share your wisdom.
On a much lighter/crude humor note....this morning I had a student decide it would be a brilliant idea to poop in the urinal. While he was under my authority. As in, he was in my classroom when the urge struck him. He garnered my permission to go into the bathroom. And he carried out his plan. IN. THE. URINAL. Inventive, yes indeed. Love of My Life's only question had to do with pooping posture. Imagine that. Happy Monday, peeps.
11 comments:
I love your blog, and I can see myself in your position in a few years when I hope to have a few kids of my own. For that, I can't answer your question of what to do. However, I am with you on spanking. I see the results of it in my classroom on a daily basis. Hang in there!
I teach school also, so I nearly died when I read what your student did. How horrible! I relate since I teach kindergarteners. You can imagine our bathroom events on a day-to-day basis.
Hmm...that's a tough one!
I think I would continue to try and see if she can truly come to an understanding (try for a few more days). If she still seems to give into the pressure to flip the switch, I would then remove the temptation. It's hard to know with her age at what point do you just say "enough" and just remove it from her reach. But, I think if you try for a few more days (and continue to discipline), then you will know in your heart if the bed should just be moved.
I think you need to decide if it is just her being childish or if she is just flat out being defiant.
I can't remember how old LO is? Is she two yet? Ella is almost 3 and I would say I am just now to the point where I do expect her to have self control over such things (and have for probably the past few months). Before now, I had to sort of do what I mentioned above with certain annoyances.
Of course, most books would probably tell you to make her learn the self control now and discipline her until she finally gets it.
If it was a vase or something, would you keep it out and make her learn not to touch or put it up until you thought she should be able to understand better and resist? You'd probably just put it up. I guess I'm comparing the light switch to that.
That's my two cents! But, God gave you her because He knew that you would do what was best...so no matter what, always go with what you feel is right! I don't think there is a right or wrong here.
Oh Katie. I don't feel your pain yet but am thankful you are walking the path ahead of me. Love that you call on others- as I will you when my guy is LO's age. On Chapter 2 of One Thousand Gifts- loving it! I had sweet sweet dreams last night after falling asleep reading it. Not sure what I dreamed but they were positive and sweet!
I am totally with you. Although my little is only 10 months and we don't spank quite yet, we will. My parents did and we were raised right. We are respectful to our parents (no, not only because we were spanked)as well as all elders because that is how we were taught. Disobey, get in trouble. End of story! Good luck and I hope I can handle it as well when we get to that point!
I feel ya. Today was quite an afternoon at our house with our girl who loves to push the limits. She is no stranger to a spanking. She knows the rules and is very aware of the consequences. I pray for consistancy and firmness with her, but also for the ability to teach her forgiveness. It's quite a struggle some days, isn't it? Wish our girls could play.... I'd love to see the little girls with oh-so-similar dispositions in action :)
What a way to start the morning, huh? With a little discipline session? :) This stuff is hard, isn't it.
My thought is to just move the crib down a few inches. She disobeyed, she repented, she was forgiven. Now, I'd help her be not led into temptation.
Good luck!
Tough question. I tend to move objects when and if possible. Mostly due to the fact that I just don't have it in me to be consistent and carry out the discipline. I feel there are so many times when discipline HAS to be enforced {b/c of safety reasons}, so I tend to lean on the side of removing the child from the temptation. That being said...my husband would stick it out and discipline. He has more patience {probably b/c he's not with kids all day} to lovingly enforce the rules. The other day he set up our new printer with Stephen Small. I would never have attempted that with a child by my side. Wow, tough issue. I struggle with this all the time. What to do? What to do? I don't think you can go wrong with the light switch issue as long as you are consistent.
Your student...so sorry. Gross.
Don't have any idea on the discipline portion of the post, but wanted to share that over the summers during college hubs was a janitor for an elementary school and he said kids pooped in the urinals all the time!
Question- if you move her crib, is there any chance she could hurt herself (fall out) trying to STILL reach the lights?
Either way--yuck. Love you.
Oh Katie... we have a urinal pooper at our kindergarten at least once a year! Fun! Fun!
I have really been pondering your question about the light switch... I don't think the concept of discipline really starts to sink in until 2.5 years old. And this is just how we do it at our house, given my kids temperaments, but I try to save spanking for serious problems, life and death issues. That doesn't work for everyone and may not work for you. Everyone has to figure out what is right for their kids. But it is hard with a 2 year old to know what else to do other than spank because what do they really comprehend? I would move the crib. Mostly because while it seems like defiance, there are going to be eight million more times before she is five where she will be defiant and you can teach her otherwise. You have plenty of time for these lessons to sink in. There will be no shortage of opportunities. I don't think you will be missing an opportunity to discipline or teach her because you move the crib. Really, this is just the beginning and it would probably be okay to remove the temptation.
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