Big, Big Trouble
There are three levels of discipline in the house:
- The Talk (punishment enough, right? Who likes a lecture?)
- Time Out
- Big, Big Trouble
Big, Big Trouble is reserved for the most serious offenses: a combination of biting, hitting, kicking, screaming/yelling, spitting, throwing things, hitting doors or walls, you get the idea.
Sebastian is in Big, Big Trouble tonight. He bit and pushed his friend (his friend made sure to tell me exactly what happened), tried to bite his teacher, had a complete histrionic meltdown in the car and was screaming about something (I tuned him out and wouldn't respond so I don't even remember what it was about), picked up a toy from the back of the car and hit me with it while I was driving (again, I didn't respond though I was seething inside) and when that didn't get a response, he did it again.
When we got home I didn't say a word. I left everything in the car, took him by the arm and marched him into his room, told him briefly in that low, flat, I'm-so-pissed-I'm-beyond-yelling voice that he was in Big, Big Trouble for biting, yelling and hitting and closed the door behind me. *Thunk*! *Thunk*! He picked up toys and launched them at the closed door.
I took a lap around the kitchen and living room and then moved Sebastian to his bathroom - if he's in Big, Big Trouble he shouldn't have access to fun things to destroy. After about 10 minutes he calmly asked me if he could come out and promised he would be good. No problem. Everyone needs to hit the "reset" button every now and then.
Enter battle royale #2 . The known consequences for Big, Big Trouble. No TV, no friends, no play-dough, no Transformers, no stories before bed or snuggling... just companionship and books. Yeeeah... that didn't go over so well. The battle ranged from eating dinner, washing hands, washing face, brushing teeth, putting on PJ's and (shock!) going to bed.
I'm lucky that nights like this are few and far between because tonight, duct tape seems like a viable parenting tool.
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