If I've heard that once, I've heard it a million times. Is that the best that parents can do? Little Jimmy doesn't want to leave the ice cream store and pitches a fit. Mom stands there and asks simperingly "Do you want me to count to threeeeee?" Jimmy howles louder. "Okay then. One." Long pause, Jimmy obviously isn't getting with the program. "One and a half." I wonder if she'll go for one and three quarters? Personally, at this point, I'd sell. "Two." Goody! We're getting somewhere and only three minutes have passed. "Two and a half..." Mom looks desperate now. She knows everyone is watching. We're thinking "Why the hell don't you just pick him up and take him to the car? Why not show him who is in charge?!"
"Okay then, you're going to make me say three and you know what'll happen then. No Sponge Bob Square Pants after dinner." Little Jimmy couldn't care less. Mom is about to lose her cookies, and he knows it. "Okay then, three. No Sponge Bob tonight. Let's go now sweetie or you won't get dessert, either." Eight minutes have passed. Mom is sweating. Management is starting to get worried that customers will leave. Little Jimmy looks all set to keep going, when an older woman walks up to him and says "Young man, get up off of that floor, take your mothers hand and GO HOME!" Jimmy is so startled that he stops howling, gets up off the floor, takes his mothers hand and says "I want to go home now."
How about that? Parents, take a lesson from this older woman, and from Jimmy. Kids don't want you to count to three. They want direction. Don't put them into the position of having to make grown-up decisions. The kid looked to be about three years old...when you're ready to leave, take his hand and leave. Don't ask him if he's ready to go. Tell him "It's time to go."
Don't be a wimpy, wishy-washy touchy feely parent. Take charge. Be the parent. 'Cause if you don't, you'll make me do something really dramatic like count to three, and you wouldn't want that!
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3 comments:
My mum counted to three. Well, she never got there, all she had to say was "one", because we knew if she ever got to three, the consequences would be dire. Even though we weren't quite sure what the consequences were because she never said.
Still, my mother knew how to parent.
Sounds like she did! Thanks for reading, and commenting!
Anonymous Parent
Oh goodness... the things I've seen... the places I've been. Counting to 3 works if your child knows that when you get there it means business. Kids need consequences and 3 is NOT too young to understand, nor is 2, or even younger. I am tired of hearing "but he won't understand why he is being punished". If you act quickly, yes he will.
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