Well, before I get started on the main topic of the post - I got my doctor's results back today and everything came back normal! She checked my thyroid and my cholesterol, along with a few others and all of that was normal. The cervical cancer (pap smear) results, and all of that came back normal as well! I'm supposed to start my Loestrin 24 during my next cycle, to see if it helps with my cysts. You have NO idea how excited I am about this news! I could cry. I've been so torn up for the last several months about the possibility of something really being wrong with me (health-wise) and to hear that God is faithful, and that I am healthy, just makes me feel absolutely amazing! It's really, really, made it possible for me to enjoy life more!
On that topic, I've really been struggling lately with being consistent with disciplining the kids, and because of that, they have been pushing boundaries like no other. It's been a really rough few weeks around here with them always fighting, arguing, not doing what I ask, taking forever to finish a task, etc. So, yesterday I started a new mode of discipline in this house from an old long lost friend, Dacia. It's called First Time Obedience. In essence, you are teaching your kids to be extremely prompt about doing what they are asked to do, the FIRST time. Not talking back, not waiting, not ignoring you, etc. So, I will tell them one time, "Nathanael, please ____." If he chooses not to do it, he gets a warning, "Nathanael, please ____, or you are going to have to get a spanking." If he STILL chooses not to do it, he gets a pop on the rear, and is sent to his bed until he is done crying. Then, he comes out, we talk about it, hug, and go on about our business. I did this all day yesterday (Nate got 3 spankings, Brayden got 1, and Isaac got 1), and lastnight at bed time was AMAZING! Bed time took 15 minutes, instead of an hour - all because they did everything I asked them to do, the FIRST time! There was no crying, getting up and down, wanting to play, etc. They cleaned up their room, brushed their teeth, and went to bed, all in 15 minutes! And they were asleep in about 10 minutes! It was glorious! Today, they have been so well behaved, NO ONE has gotten a spanking, and I don't know what to do with myself. Since they are listening, I've been able to be MUCH more calm, which has kept them calm, which has made for a MUCH more pleasant household! I can really, really feel God in here with us today, and he's really lifted me up in this time where I feel so much frustration. So, thank you Jesus!
Thank you for positive test results, thank you for this amazing family, thank you for a husband that works so hard, thank you for letting yourself be known to my children, thank you for loving us, and thank you for being you!
I'm so happy today!
I'm so glad you are expecting first time obedience. Our children know when we expect them to obey and if we let them get away with something over and over, we re essentially training them to obey the 4th or 5th time or whenever they can tell that mom has reached her limit. I encourage you to read "don't make me count to three" and "shepherding a child's heart". It's all about their hearts!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I must say that you are a nicer mommy than me...my children rarely get warnings. They know if I say to do (or not do) something and they disobey, they get a swat. They learn quickly that I mean what I say the first time-not the 3rd time. Be careful with the warnings, or you'll find them pushing it as long as they can and that will become their norm. :-) delayed obedience is still disobedience!
Where do I get the books from?
ReplyDeleteThe reason I am doing the "warning" thing, is because much like training, it's little steps at a time. I can't go from being a 4th time obedience mommy to a REAL first time obedience mommy overnight, lol. I've been VERY lax with my kids about discipline the last few months, and now I am definitely paying for it. They run me ragged by the end of the day, and I feel more like THEY run the house, and it's driving me nuts. So, I'm putting a stop to it NOW before I have to answer to the law being at my door because my kids are disrespectful and don't respect authority. I have no doubts that is what it will get to if I don't do something about it now.
I also really want them to be more submissive, so that they will learn how to be that way in their relationship with God. We have to be so submissive to Him, even when we don't want to be, and my kids are going to learn that from ME. So it's about time I start teaching them.