I am a simple man. My wife, on the other hand, is able to navigate the complexities of child psychology. She has been reading a parenting book, one I consider very insightful. Its premise is that parenting should not be about commanding, threating, begging, or bribing. Rather, parenting should provide children with acceptable choices, like "If you throw the spoon on the floor again, you'll have to find another way to eat your food."
The idea is great. The problem for me is the implementation. When it comes time to try this new form of discipline, I can't think of a good choice. I feel put on the spot a little. I feel like my kids see right through our little plot to shape their young minds and stand ready to resist me or ignore me if I blow it. My mind goes blank, I blow it, they do resist and ignore, and I get frustrated.
After some discussion with my wife, she suggested picking one area to work on at a time, like dinner choices or bedtime choices. One idea at a time? "Now you're speaking my language!" I said.
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