02/02/2014 - Who's the boss
Where to start.......maybe if you start noticing some things that are going on from a different perspective? What typically happens when the kids don't get their own way? Do they just accept your decision and say nothing or does your "youngster" proceed to tell you, the parent, about how it should be?
They try to convince you what is right or wrong or why you should totally disregard the fact that you have been on the planet for substantially longer than them and have forgotten more than they have experienced in their life to date?
Still keep thinking from this different perspective ... take a moment to remember all the emotional manipulation, blackmail and reasoning your kids can apply. They do this for as long as it takes to see a reaction in you. Weren't you saying "no" for a good reason or did you just want to upset them for the sake of it, of course not?
What generally happens when these moments arise is that we usually just give in because it is easier, forgetting about the facts and the reasons why we made that decision in the first place. Changing "no" to "yes" will restore peace and quiet, at least until the next battle of wills takes place over something earth shattering like "Can I have my third ice cream today?"
The reasons why kids argue and have a battle of wills with us is because we allow it and, in the past, they have been rewarded for it. If you want to regain control and "parent" again then you only need one thing...............yep, one thing, but it is not easy to do at first, but in time it does work and you can do it.
What I am talking about is "COMMITTED CONSISTENCY". You are not going to get the rewards you so eagerly want today, tomorrow or the next day but if you start the process, it will happen soon enough. Let's face it; what you are doing is not giving you the results you wanted.
In the next hints and tips I will tell you what to be aware of as you start to change the status quo in your home. It is easy once you understand their tactics. I will show you how