ivybendorf

I would say, "Yes, I am mad because you are not paying attention, and if you don't start, you will be punished." She is turning it into a joke, and you have to make sure she knows you do NOT think it is funny. When it becomes a joke, you CANNOT be nice, or lenient, or fair. You are in charge, you are not a joke. When she starts changing the subject (mine tries too), let her know you are on to her game. "Don't change the subject, you need to give me your attention and do what you are told. NOW."

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Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality. ~Beatrix Potter :wubclub:

ivybendorf

I am a mean mom, but my children behave for the most part. My son, I am learning, needs very different discipline than my daughter. I am not sure what approach to take with him. When I am being serious and stern like I am with his sister, he thinks it is hilarious! I am not sure how to get him to take me seriously, but he is only 15 months... I am thinking girls are easier than boys, LOL!

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Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality. ~Beatrix Potter :wubclub:

Ari2

I hear this occasionally and ponder it when my daughter is giving me giant buckets o' grief. And there sits her twin brother, who is so easy and eager to please.

Momoes

Well, my only experience would tell me girls are little terrors, but I'm sure this gift is divided pretty equally between the genders from the sounds of it. Thanks, Ivy, I actually kept your advice in mind today. We were joking around and she started hitting me and I stopped and looked at her and said "No hitting. If you're going to hit me, then I won't play the game anymore." and miraculously, she just said "Ok". I think I must have had a more confident tone this time, because the good behaviour lasted most of the evening and usually when I try to be stern she also thinks it's hilarious. It sounds like obvious advice, but I think sometimes we forget this simple stuff in the moment.

Cthru

Have to disagree here!! I have twin 15yr old girls and I'm a step away from losing my mind. I have 2 step sons who are 16 and 18 and they have always been so nice (granted they don't live here full time). My 3 yr old boy is a joy to be around - hoping he'll be the same as his step brothers.

You have all the stuff with clothes, hair, nails.. not going to go into the daily dramas in their different circle of friends. All the emotion.. tears.. it's not easy. Boys at least just fight it out and be done with it