Wednesday, June 25, 2008

"Let the punishment fit the crime."


Do you have imagies of Haley Mills in a camp shirt and tan shorts? If not, then you're probably not old enough to remember the old Disney version of The Parent Trap. Anway, it was the inspiration for a bit of creative discipline at my house today.

Evan and Keven have been at each others' throats. Nearly literally. They've been snipping, snapping and crabbing at each other all day long displaying the most stinkin' attitudes I've seen in a long time. So, I cured their stinkin' attitudes. My magic potion? Let the punishment fit the crime. I thought one might end up dead if I did what the camp director did in the Parent Trap. I wasn't about to sacrifice a child just to teach them how to get along! So, I instituded a little creative discipline. Stinkin' attitudes get stinkin' work. One scrubbed the bathroom, toilet, potty chair and floor (and with all the boys in the house I don't have to tell you what a stinkin' job that was!) The other boy took out the trash, scrubbed down the walls and floor around the garbage can and scrubbed down the garbage lid.

So, while I had another great post thought up for Works for me Wednesday (tons of other bloggers do, so click over to Rocks in my Dryer), I'm going to have to put that one aside and focus on this one instead! :) "Stinkin' attitudes get stinkin' work" works for me!

21 comments:

Heart of Wisdom said...

Great Job MOM!!!!

Love this post!

robin@heartofwisdom.com

http://www.heartofwisdom.com/heartathome/

Wani said...

This is great! I can't wait until my 3yr old is big enough for chores like that.

Liisa said...

What a great idea and would work so well for teenagers!

Blessings,
Liisa

Unknown said...

AWESOME! I think I might print that out and frame it to remind my kids when they can't get a long.

Is summer over yet?

Jen said...

I'm SURE I will have opportunities this summer to use this on my boys. Thanks!

Abbi said...

Great plan! I do remember the old version of the "Parent trap" quite fondly. Thinking about it makes me want to see it again.

Julie said...

Nice work on the discipline! I loved that old version of the Parent Trap. And Hayley Mills is so sweet and innocent...
Julie

Becky said...

Oh my gosh, I love that movie! That's one of my all time favorites! Yes I'm that dorky. I have a 1, 3, and 5 year old crew. My 3 & 5 year olds can be the best of buds or they can be the most shouty, fussy, whining and glass-shattering screechers ever! So, I LOVE your idea and will being employing it VERY soon.... probably as early as tomorrow morning! ;) Thanks for sharing!!

Monica said...

This will be a punishment that is not soon forgotten. I'll have to keep this one in mind myself. What's your cure for whining?

April said...

WOW - great idea. I've been putting my two boys to work doing chores, but the "stinkin'" work sounds even better! Maybe once they've done something not so great, they'll think twice before they are fighting and bickering ALL day long!!!

Thanks for the great idea!

Unknown said...

Very creative. I like it!

HomeSchool Mommy said...

Good for you, Mom!

Anonymous said...

Ah yes one more to use when he comes home...sooner than later.

Anonymous said...

Great idea- I'll have to remember it.

Anonymous said...

Oh good one!! Love it! I'm thinking I will have to try this one. :)

Toni said...

Great correction. And you got a nice "perk" out of it too in all those tidy areas. ;)
Blessings,
~Toni~
(coming in from Wani's blog)

Toni said...

Great correction. And you got a nice "perk" out of it too in all those tidy areas. ;)
Blessings,
~Toni~
(coming in from Wani's blog)

Michelle @ Sew-Krafty said...

Terrific!!
Have you read Creative Correction by Lisa Welchel? Very similar techniques...it's a staple around tha Land of Pink.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the idea. We can use all the help we can get during these long summer days of togetherness.

Lydia said...

WOW!! Never have I seen so many comments on one post. Good job!! Love the idea, too. Thanks!

Jim said...

I just wanted to give you a perfect 21, Babe. I even remember when you were 21.