Author:
Ginger
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Date Posted: 08:28:27 01/10/26 Sat
Hey, sorry I disappeared for a bit. It's been a crazy couple of days. You can give me a few extra smacks the next time I'm on the receiving end, lol.
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I can see you concentrating, and I am really proud of the progress you are making already. You're willing to talk about rules and consequences, and I can tell you're really thinking about it.
"Um, no getting in trouble at school?" You say.
"That's another important one, but I think we should expand it a bit. You should try to be on your best behavior in school, but also just generally in public. This includes your lessons, when you're visiting friends, and when you're out at places like shops or restaurants."
You scrunch up your brow in confusion.
"So, I'm never allowed out to have fun?"
"Of course you can still have fun! You just need be mindful of how you act around others. Be respectful of adults, and treat others the way you would want them to treat you. It's entirely possible to have a good time without being rude or inconsiderate. "
You look down, and it's pretty obvious my last comment must have struck a nerve.
"Hey," I say softly, "I'm not trying to make you feel bad. You're a good kid Lucas. You've just gotten into some bad habits, especially when you don't get your way. I want to help you make better choices."
"And if I don't act how you want, then you're gonna spank me." Your tone is glum, with just a touch of anger still in there.
"Well, sometimes, yes. " I concede. "But there's a scale of severity. Not every mistake will land you over my knee. Let's say you get snippy with your tennis coach, but then you realize you've been rude. If you give him a genuine apology, I'm sure he'd be willing to forgive a little slip, and that would be the end of it. But, if you throw a tantrum in the grocery store because I refuse to buy you candy, and scream and roll around on the ground like a 2 year old, then you can count on a sore bottom when get home. "
You giggle a little at the idea of throwing that kind of tantrum. I was hoping that mental image might break the tension that was building back up. We both know you wouldn't do something that extreme.
"You will almost always get a warning, unless it's something big, like lying, or deliberate disobedience, or unless it's something that you've already been warned about before. "
You still look worried.
"Ok, how about this? If you could make rules for me, then what would they be? I'm not promising that those will become official rules, but I really want to know what you are worried about with the new discipline routine. I want you to try to think before you act, but I done want you you to be scared to put one toe out of line. If I can do something so that you feel better about these changes, then I'll try to do it. "
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