It has happened again...two ratty, tired, cheeky children went to bed last night and two happy little angels woke up this morning! Twice in one week, how lucky is that?!? We have enjoyed a lovely breakfast of Sultana Bran, giggles and smiles and I am loving that every time I look at Elliott, he brings his shoulders up to his ears, tilts his head a little and flashes me a big cheesy grin. So cute and such a contrast to his usual scrunched up whingy face. I am really loving today.
I must admit though, earlier this week when I told you about the day we were going to have with no shouting or rousing, it didn't exactly go to plan. Before we had even left the house for swimming lessons, Sophie got a time out that involved a lot of yelling, kicking and screaming on her behalf and Elliott got a rousing and a smack on the backside for climbing up onto the kitchen table and playing with the laptop. I did have the best of intentions though and quickly got back on track to have a good day. I switched my goal from no rousing or shouting to just speaking calmly to the kids. That worked thank goodness!
Just back tracking to the time out thing, that has turned into quite a circus around here. It is hands down the most effective behaviour management strategy when it comes to Sophie but Elliott's recent involvement has turned it into a bit of a game. You see, after I put Sophie in the time out chair, I tell her what she's done wrong and to stay there until I come back. I head over to the oven and put the timer on and before I can even turn around, Elliott is squatting down in front of Sophie, waving his finger at her and telling her off. He then collects his own little red chair and puts himself in a completely self imposed time out on the other side of the craft table. I then squat down in front of him and tell him he is in time out for absolutely no reason at all and that he will come to despise this chair in the years to come. He giggles, and I tell him that I love him and he is free to go any time. The time out continues until the oven timer sounds and I head over to sort Sophie out. Elliott then takes this as his cue to end his self imposed time out and comes over to tell Sophie off again. As you can imagine, this is all much to Sophie's amusement so I fear the time out method may be losing its effectiveness on her! Oh well, we will come up with something I am sure of it...perhaps a clone of myself so I can be in two places at once! Boy, that would make mothering SO much easier!!
Happy Friday everyone and I hope you enjoy a wonderful weekend of fun, laughter and relaxation xox
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