Hello all,
I found this board & registered hoping to find new perspectives and tactics.
We have two boys, 8 and 10. Like night and day in most areas. As a result,
[/COLOR]
we have to reinvent the wheel most of the time.
A brief history... Our oldest (mostly mellow, easy going) went through a stage at 7 or 8 for almost a year. He was testing bounderies, nothing new, but did so with much hostility. He was moody, angry, and disrespectful most of the time. Any communication between us took me to new levels of frustration. With him, adjusting discipline, practicing patience, and teaching the relationship between the privilages he enjoyed and the level of maturity he demonstrated worked. Fortunately, he settled down and we once again enjoy spending time and talking together.
Now, here is where I am stuck.
My youngest, 8 (full of P&V) appears to be entering into the same sort of era. But I have run out of effective disciplinary measures, and have to get really creative to keep the praise level high. Nothing we have tried in the past is working. And at this age, I believe corporal punishment sends
hypocritical[/COLOR]mixed messages.
The situation is escalating [/COLOR]rapidly, and I am at a loss. I need something big. A "shock and awe" scenario for an eight year old. Something to remove any question of who is in charge, and firmly re-establish the heirarchy of this family.
Anybody have any really unique, creative ideas??? (willing to consider cruel & unusual) ...kidding
I found this board & registered hoping to find new perspectives and tactics.
We have two boys, 8 and 10. Like night and day in most areas. As a result,
[/COLOR]
we have to reinvent the wheel most of the time.
A brief history... Our oldest (mostly mellow, easy going) went through a stage at 7 or 8 for almost a year. He was testing bounderies, nothing new, but did so with much hostility. He was moody, angry, and disrespectful most of the time. Any communication between us took me to new levels of frustration. With him, adjusting discipline, practicing patience, and teaching the relationship between the privilages he enjoyed and the level of maturity he demonstrated worked. Fortunately, he settled down and we once again enjoy spending time and talking together.
Now, here is where I am stuck.
My youngest, 8 (full of P&V) appears to be entering into the same sort of era. But I have run out of effective disciplinary measures, and have to get really creative to keep the praise level high. Nothing we have tried in the past is working. And at this age, I believe corporal punishment sends
hypocritical[/COLOR]mixed messages.
The situation is escalating [/COLOR]rapidly, and I am at a loss. I need something big. A "shock and awe" scenario for an eight year old. Something to remove any question of who is in charge, and firmly re-establish the heirarchy of this family.
Anybody have any really unique, creative ideas??? (willing to consider cruel & unusual) ...kidding