Positive What?!

I have a confession to make.

I feel like I am blowing it when it comes to positive discipline with my children. In fact, I have resorted to punishment most of the time. :( Josh, however, has been kind and firm at the same time, which is the foundation of positive discipline, but he still uses time out. I am firm (consistent) but need to work on the "kind" part, especially when I am tired.

After reading Positive Discipline books years ago I could clearly see how well the tools could work with older children (6 and older), but I've always been unclear as to exactly how it looks for toddlers and preschoolers. My children are younger and the oldest is emotionally young for his age, so I've had a rough time implementing some of the positive discipline techniques. However, had I not read about these methods I cannot imagine what it would be like in our home! We are not allowed to use corporal punishment and that is all I knew years ago.

I said all of that to say... since I am already behind on the tool cards, mainly because I don't see how to implement them with my children's ages, I will write about the ones that are working for us. Oh, we are planning to start having family meetings soon and I can't wait!

Here is one that I'm actually good at, BUT I often make a big mistake and fail to be kind and/or keep my mouth shut afterwards:

We have bedtime routines that we rarely deviate from and they go to bed good most of the time. Sometimes they don't want to go to bed, though. If they get out of bed for anything other than going to the bathroom we point to their bedroom without saying a word, but sometimes if they come in the living room and say something to us we will put them in time-out. Maybe we're too strict but we always follow through. Here's our evening routine:

• Eat supper
• Take baths, one at a time
• We read books to them (while waiting their turn to bathe)
• Bible Time (Read the Bible, say their memory verse)
• Prayer Time
• Bedtime

So, just to make myself accountable and remind you that I am far from a perfect parent, I am working on being kind and not doing the "I told you so" routine when they mess up. Now, go read what TO do at Jane Nelson's blog!