Mama Jo

So far so good w/the new sitter. She seems really nice and very laid-back. She thinks the boys are so funny and loves telling me the things they do during the day. It's nice having the dogs gated in the playroom with them. It's also nice going straight home and having a little bit of free time to play with them in the afternoons. They seem so much happier being in their own environment all day. I'm sure they can sense that I'm happier too.

I'm afraid we're about to have to start laying down the law with the boys. I know grandparents and aunts and uncles want to spoil them, but please help us out by teaching the boys "no". They used to respond and stop doing whatever it was they were doing, but now they just laugh at us and keep doing it. I know they're a hoot and it's hard not to laugh at them sometimes but if you know me, you know that I'm a pretty firm disciplinarian (I'm a school teacher, ya know) and I will not allow them to defy me to my face. I know they're not going to be perfect but, especially when it comes to safety issues, they WILL obey me. A couple of things we do not allow them to do and I ask that you please do the same:

- stand up in the bathtub

- throw their food, cup, or toys (once they throw it, it's taken away from them)

- continue to do something after they're told no (touch electronics, hit others, bite, etc.)

- stand on furniture

- stand up in the basket at a store (L goes in the front, P can sit in the back)

I'm really not that strict - I just want them to be safe. Like I said, I know they're not going to be perfect, but I refuse to raise a defiant child. Time out seems to work best with them. They are too young to stay in a designated area, so we use a pack 'n play as our time out. I'm not a fan of spanking or even "popping" them unless it is a safety issue. I know no one else is going to do that anyway, I just wanted you guys to know where I stand. Trust me I've never spanked anyone else's child and I never will. And yes, my heart breaks when the boys give me the pouty face or cry when I discipline them, but PLEASE help us out with this. My philosophy is if we take the time to discipline them now we'll reap the rewards later when they are not running all over the store/restaurant/etc. acting like fools.

I'll leave you with a little quote that helps me to remember we have to *teach* children right from wrong.......

"Man must be disciplined, for he is by nature raw and wild."

~ German Philosopher

And then there is this one, which I think is really funny and makes me think of my sister......

"If you have never been hated by a child, then you have never been a parent."

~ Bette Davis