I can’t tell you how many times I have heard parents tell a child that they were going to be punished if they did something, only to see the child do exactly what they were warned not to. Then the parent would warn them again, only to see the child defy them again. Then the parent would let it rip.
Although this may be cute when they are 9 months old, it isn’t as adorable when he or she is sixteen.
Children learn extremely early if parents serious about what they are telling them to do. My favorite discipline is when a parent starts to count when asking a child to do something, and then wonder why the child always waits until the last moment to obey. The child knows that they have time to agree, so think they might as well enjoy the delay in following the rules.
All parents fall into one of the following two categories at one time or another as they learn to parent. I remember being in the first category, coming home from work and telling my wife that we were going to be okay and that we were tougher than our two-year-old. I also remember being in the second category and coming home after work with our fourth child and exclaiming that it was okay if we got professional help.
The Importance Of Discipline For Your Child
Parenting and disciplining is not for the faint-hearted, and must be done with the same vigor with which you approach your career. Early efforts will pay off in the future, but a lack of discipline will cost you in the end.
Here are some of the parenting methods that we adopted that seemed to help:
- Follow through on discipline, even when it hurts your fun.
- Both parents must be on the same page or the child will divide and conquer you.
- Never make a threat that you aren’t willing to follow through on.
- Don’t make every battle a world war. Make it your goal to win the war, not just the battle.
- Expect first-time obedience
- Never argue about a child’s discipline in front of the child. Excuse yourself to a private place and come out united. This is war!
Many times what seems like a child issue is really a parent issue. Be willing to consider what you have done right and what you have done wrong. But most importantly, don’t give up.