Category: Brat Stuff

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Discipling My 6 Yrs Old

Discipline NOW! is my strategy! As good as I wanna think Chloe is – she can be a brat at times. In fact – she can be pretty sassy – and tell you stuff like ” Oh no! you don’t !” when we threatened to take away something from her if she was misbehaving. At other times, she can be so rough – she can caused us a joint pain if we ain’t careful – because she is all over us and wants to be piggy backed or carried.

We take the coach approach with Chloe with what and how she can help us or her friends reach their goals. When something happened – whether in school or in a playgroup – we listen first and empathize – we do not interrupt her and after she have had enough of whining about it – we ask her “what could she do differently the next time?” – our goal is to help her learn from mistakes she made this time so she can do better the next time. But of course, it’s easier said than done – because she never wants to be wrong – so we have to use our words carefully.

But discipline is never easy, so whenever Chloe makes a mistake, we try to give her a second chance and explain what she has done wrong and remind her of the behavior we’d like to see. And of course, as parents – you have to give credit when credit is due – so don’t forget to pat her on her shoulder now – when she does it right. Cause and effect – is what we teach Chloe. Instead of revoking tv time in the night because she is late for school – we move our tv time earlier – that way it’s a win-win situation and the best consequences are the ones whereby Chloe learns something from it.

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What Makes A Great Dad

We came home from work today – and chloe announced that PB is a good dad. So i asked her why – she thought PB is a good dad – in which she replied – that PB had gotten her paper aeroplane from behind the tv. So I said to her – “oh – so that’s why he is a good day? you mean if he didn’t get you the paper aeroplane – he isn’t a good dad?” She replied – “nooo.. ! he buys us food – make money for us, cook, bathe me and read to me” In which PB replied – “she is a smart girl” hahaha!! And yes, he would buy the kid a spirometer if she needed one “touch wood”

But yes ! what makes a good dad? during our father’s and forefather’s time, one could never imagine a dad doing so many things for their kid – moreso, Chloe is a gal. Time has changed and more and more dad plays a more important role in their kid’s life and do a lot more. I read on my friend’s blog the other day how she felt she was a unfit mother. We all know that Dads will never feel like that because they never beat themselves up over anything like we moms do. We are constantly worrying – constantly at our kid’s beck and call – but time has changed and it’s up to us women to ask for help. Do not be shy – do not beat yourself up if you need help. Do not beat yourself up if you are tired – or stress or need to scream – you are only human. Men who refuses to morally support the wife are just being stuck in the dark ages – and are just asking for more domestic trouble and emotional breakdown. Women are such sensitive creatures and may i add “mad”and “unreasonable” at times. A little help – a little hug- a little encouragement will definitely go a long way. But women!! make sure you ask for help – women who don’t wanna open their golden mouth or feel inadequate because you need help – are just asking to be sent to Woodbridge aka mental hospital.

In any relationship – it’s an uphill task – it’s important that both party spend time talking – it’s important that men try and understand their wives and wives try and tell the husbands nicely what they actually want done today or this week – he ain’t no mind-reader – we all know that men don’t like to play games. So the moral of my story is – no one is an unfit parents – we all have to work hard to be good parents – we all love our kids and wives (if you don’t then stop reading). So a medium – a balance is important. Your say now.

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Terrible 6

So we were invited to our neighbor’s kid birthday like a few weeks ago at the bowling alley and here we thought – ahhhh.. it was gonna be a breeze. Afterall, the bowling alley is a familiar place and the lil’ brat is great with the neighbor’s kids too – and our dear friend works there – so what could go wrong right..?? Well, it was a Black Friday scene once again ! Yes ! the brat had a meltdown – and here we thought, we had it good – while the rest of the world – saw the terrible twos or threes in their kids – we didn’t see any. But is there such a thing as the terrible 6?

Like i said.. we had it easy for the longest time ever – no tantrums in the public nor any misbehaving. But she didnt’ wanna wait her turn to bowl – also because she didn’t know any of the kids there – but that’s no excuse right? So what do you do .. in order not to disrupt the birthday party? I don’t know about other parents – but i got our friend to open another lane for the lil’ brat .. so she could roll the bowling ball till her heart’s content.

But she certainly wasn’t let off easy when she got home – because as soon as she got home – we sat her down to explain to her that her behavior was bad and whey she had to share with others – so the story goes on. We also told her that we won’t be doing the same the next time she goes for another party at the bowling alley and if she fussed the way she did – she was going straight home and no more birthday parties. She said she understood – so we’ll see. So anyone has the terrible 6s ?? The Joy of Parenthood!! YAY!

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Picky Eaters

So I was asked are picky eaters born or brought up to be one? We were invited to a birthday party today – and as usual – as m uch as the kid loves to go to parties – she refuses to eat anything at the party. Usually the parents would have fruits, pizza and pop for the party – even during chloe’s own birthday party – we had pizzas, chicken wings, fruits, chips but as usual – she won’t eat them.

The expert said that picky eaters are raised that way because of their parents but I can tell you that’s not true – in our household. We’ve encouraged and asked her to try everything and even bribe her to try new food – but nope – no way even if her life depended on it. So when I read on Parents Today while looking at some term life insurance quotes that picky eaters were made to be one – I cannot but shake my head – if only they knew how we’ve tried all ways to get Chloe to try all sorts of food. *sigh* – so for those parents like myself – don’t feel bad when you read the same article – i know it .. and you know it.

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A Kid Who Is Nervous About School

So March break is over and school started on Monday – unfortunately, Chloe didn’t go back to school because she had a fever on Sunday and we kept her in on Monday and Tuesday as well – just so she doesn’t pass anything to her school friends. How you wished all parents are like that eh..?? yes, we are thankful we work for ourselves that way we can always schedule our time and take care of Chloe whenever we can. But having said that we are so busy – we don’t even have time for zit remedies and sometimes a shower – why? because the kid is full of nerves going to her new school.

Seriously, we do not know why she is nervous about her new school – which actually isn’t new because she started out in this school in French immersion. Anyhow – what do you do with a nervous kid ? We have to stay calm and tell her that if she still doesn’t feel well – when she arrives at school grounds we will take her home. But as soon as she got to school, she didn’t complain no more about a painful tummy. I am keeping my fingers cross here – i know chloe is a very sensitive kid – and i feel she does remember what happened during her first year in this school. I keep telling myself .. 3 more months.. 3 more months.

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Teach Them The Value Of Money

I don’t know if you know this – PB just exchanged his aeroplan miles for a 52″ plasma tv. I would never have agreed to pay cash for it – and he knows better. So when he told me he was gonna use his aeroplan miles for it – i didn’t say a word but thank God that he was sensible enough not to overspend. For if it was up to me – i would never have bought anything fancy – a tv is a tv to me – just like buying the best vitamins for men – pretty straight forward.

Anyhow – PB had been searching for a tv stand for this new plasma tv – of course! and he was trying to convince me that he was trying to get one at a reasonable price. After months of searching – he finally bought one from Skytec at a pretty reasonable price and he had put it up himself the other day. Chloe came home from her grandparents and as soon as she saw the new tv stand asked her dad how much it was..?? and if it was orange tag.. muahahahhaha!!!! you see we taught the kid that we never buy anything that wasn’t discounted. I didn’t mind telling our kid that i was a pretty el cheapo person – but moreso – we wanna teach the kid the value of money and that money doesn’t grow on trees – even though her Uncle Richard would beg to differ since he put money on a tree in a huge card for the kid one Christmas.. hahahah!! So teach them young and teach them well – else trouble lies ahead.

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Friends For Your Kids

Chloe had been spending time @ her grammie’s & grampie’s – and while she was out there – she had lots of visits from both her friends from her new school and her old school and of course friends from the store. She doesn’t know she missed all of them – but there is one kid we haven’t seen for a long time now. You see Chloe is really fond of this friend but unfortunately, we have had been making the calls and leaving messages for her friend’s parents for years now. Finally, this year – I decided – I’ve done my part as a friend and it’s up to them if they value our friendship – not like Chloe doesn’t have lots of ppl to play with and invited to play dates and stuff. I rather spend more time worrying about my cholesterol medications then the kid’s friend because she will outgrow the friendship – and she will have other friends as she grows up – so i’m not gonna be too, too worried about it – if this friend of hers doesn’t wanna call. If they are meant to be best buddies in the future – things will just fall into place – but in the meantime, I have no time to worry about it.

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Words Can Wound

So Chloe came home from Grammie’s last nite – all tired and excited – she said she loves going to her Grammie’s and we had told her we were very proud of her – in which she replied – “so did you get your work done?” “is it because I’m not annoying you?” Well, that took us by surprised ! because we must have said something to Chloe to make her think that she was an annoyance or like eczema. So parents – we have to be very careful what we portray to our kids and what we say to our kids – what we said – or think at that point of time when we did say something to our kids – may not really sit well with them. Or if you think they don’t get hurt by words because they are too young to understand hurt – well you are wrong.

Kids mainly aim to please and Chloe is not any different – she would act silly or if we were laughing at some stuff she was doing – she would keeping doing it again and again to make us laugh. I strongly believed that kids grow up to be what their parents are – you are a great influence to your kids if you don’t know this by now. If you were being mean or petty to your in-laws or siblings – your kids are gonna do the same to theirs. So be watchful with your actions and words because words can wound the gentle heart.

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Going To Grammie’s On March Break

It’s March break now and Chloe has just left to visit her grammie on her own and to spend a day at Grammie’s. This is the first time she is going to Grammie’s on her own and before she left – she was not feeling good – as per usual but when she arrived at Grammie’s she didn’t even remembered that she wasn’t feeling good.. hahahahah!!! So it gives PB a chance to go do some stuff like look for cheap car insurance, which we had been putting off for the longest time.

How time flies eh..!! chloe is already 6 yrs old.. and going to her grammie’s on her own when once upon a time – she wouldn’t go there on her own nor anywhere else. It’s wonderful that she is spending time there .. not because we wanna pawn her off to her grandparents but moreso – we want to foster independence in her plus we know for sure – that she is safe at her grammie’s and aunt helena’s. Now we know for sure that summer is gonna to be fun for Chloe .. woohoo..!!!

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March Report Card

So we received Chloe March report card by mail today and she did mostly good except for 2 things – that the teachers/school feels that she only demonstrates with encouragement or prompts. One is accepting responsibility for her actions and the 2nd was resolving conflict appropriately. I think I am gonna take it with a pinch of salt because afterall, the kid is only 6 yrs old – how do you expect her to resolve conflict appropriately? I mean – I as an adult sometimes have a hard time choosing stocks for the store and about accepting responsibility – I’m afraid i don’t agree with the teachers – Chloe is so afraid of everything in that school that she refuses to drink water – so she doesn’t need to use the washroom because her relieve teacher told her that she would be punished if she took too long. So pray tell – how can a child want to accept any kind of responsibility?

Other than that.. she did pretty good in everything else .. from interacting positively with others to working independently, uses time effectively follows rules and routines, completes her work in class and homework and take pride in quality of her work. Chloe likes her school – she also likes her classmates – except the kid who was disturbing her – and I truly cannot understand why the teachers didn’t do enough to help Chloe feel safe. It’s very sad – because of this incident and her french teacher’s I am not going to be doing much for either school from now on.