Here is one sort-of-funny M story.
M has decided she doesn't like me very much. Well, more accurately, she's decided to be a bit aggressive towards me. She likes to hit me. Not because she's mad. Not because I'm the meanest mama in the whole world (although she might think she when she's 4). She likes to hit me...hmm....just because. The first few times, I corrected her. A firm No! A squeeze to the hitting hand. A few other tactics. She just laughed and laughed. I realized she thought it was funny to get a response. So, today when she hit me, I just stared at her. Just stared and stared. Oh, golly. The tears and drama that followed my stare.
One time she hit me while I was changing her diaper on the changing table. I ignored her (remember the tears and drama? we were in a hurry and didn't have time for all that). So she pulled her hand back to swat me again. I gave her the stare, so she quickly put her hand down and the Nile River flowed forth. When I stood her up to pull up her pants up, she grabbed me and pulled me in for a HUGE, WET, TEAR-Y SMOOCHAROO and a GIANT SNUGGLE.
The next time she got the stare, same response. Nile River floweth, followed by a giant snuggle and a huge smoocharoo. Hopefully she won't hit tomorrow.
If you have any parenting suggestions, feel free to offer.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
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3 comments:
Sounds like you have it all figured out! Anya used to bite me for attention or just because, so I would put her down if I was holding her or just not hold her and she got so upset at that. She doesn't bite anymore. Sometimes those little things are so much more potent and useful than strong words and a time out.
Yep, you've developed the "mommy stare" which I latched onto rather quickly into motherhood. Sounds like you have, too. And it works.
My husband doesn't like "the stare" either.
I think you're on the right track Natalie. I wish "the look" worked on my DD. I remember when I was little, it sure worked on me.
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