About 25 years ago, I remember shopping with my mom in a grocery store. One of the moms had a harness on her son. I remember thinking that this was the most horrible thing I had ever seen. How could she do that?
Well, I now know why. When we went to Branson last year, I saw lots of moms with these. I thought they were great. If you have a little explorer like I do that doesn't always want to hold your hand, it really helps. I think moms who have these are smart, and love their kids and want them to be safe. So I can't judge because I have one of those explorers myself. So I bought one last year and MK loves to wear it. She doesn't always want to ride in a shopping cart, so it is nice to have this. I know everyone has an opinion, but I was hit by a car when I was 11 years old. I have a fear that she could get away from me in a parking lot and this could happen to her. When I went shopping with my friend Darla this week, her little girl stays right beside her and doesn't wander off. Mine likes to browse. I got her a little monkey and it is like a back pack. She says, "Mom don't forget to hold my tail." Too cute....
Another kid stuff item....
I mentioned ordering some parenting books a couple of posts back. They turned out to be great. The ones that I can really recommend are Kid Cooperation: How to Stop Yelling, Nagging, and Pleading to Get Kids to Cooperate by Elizabeth Pantley a mom and Discipline for Life: Getting it Right with Children by Madelyn Swift a mom and school counselor. Both books have great suggestions and tips. They discuss punishment v. discipline and why discipline is better. In Kid Cooperation it basically asks are you a Nellie Nag, Betty Briber, Count Casey, Letty Lecture, Bret Threat, Wishy Wanda, or Wilma Whiner. The examples were hysterical. I am a briber. So I have learned to watch out for that.
Some of the tricks were:
Use grandma's rule
You may __________ after you _____________
You may go play after you eat dinner.
Give clear Instructions that are specific
Give a choice
Make it brief
Make something talk to distract them
5 3 2 1 Go!
Be consistent, when you say go mean it!
I have really worked on this one. Your child has to get mentally ready before they will physically get up and do something you asked. How many adults get up immediately if they are called to do something when they are in the middle of something they are working on? Like if you are at the swimming pool and say it is time to go, you might have a two year old throw a huge tantrum on you because they are not ready. Say in 5 minutes we have to go. Then do a 3 minute, then 2 minute, then 1 minute warning. I have been doing this for dinner time. Now MK comes to the table before I have changed times on her. It has helped with bath time too.
Other things I have been reading, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, The Shack, and Esther.
Anyway, thought I would share a little of what I have been reading about! I am a middle school librarian so I read a lot. Not that the above list are things my students read. LOL!
5 comments:
I never did use a harness with my boys... but I could have. They can get away from you in a split second!
Those books look very good. I was ALWAYS reading books (mostly by Dobson) when my kids were young. I couldn't get enough support. Ha!
Can you be more than one of those kinds of parents? I'm pretty sure I was a lecturer... my kids could probably tell you real quick. And I think the biggest thing is consistency. You gotta let them know you say what you mean.
Sorry your break went so fast. Have a great week back at work next week. The school year will be over before you know it!
I think I am a lecturer and maybe a threatener too. So I guess you can be more than one Ha! I had fun picking out the bedding. I had saved up for the clothes and bedding for MK for awhile.
I said the exact same thing before I had kids...never. However, I've learned to eat alot of "nevers" in my life and the whole harness thing is one of them! Alise still has hers - although she hasn't worn it in a very long time - and hers was the bear. Did you get yours at Target, too?
I'm doing the Esther Bible Study! I assume you meant Beth Moore!
Have a great weekend!!
I got hers at Wal-Mart. Hopefully she won't need it much longer, but it sure comes in handy. I haven't started the Beth Moore study on Esther, just got my book this week.
Our youngest daughter got lost in Silver Dollar City one summer and nearly scared us both to death. Luckily we found her in the hospitality house. So guess who bought a harness. Yup! I felt bad about it but not near as bad as I would have if we had lost our baby girl. She was so cute. We were in the restroom and she was wearing it. She looked up at me with those big ole green eyes and said, "mommy, I feel like a puppy dog". Sorry.
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