This is not my typical book review. Rather, this is a
preface to a review I will be writing in several months.
Many of you know I have three small children, Luke, age 6;
Aubrey, almost 4; and Ellie, 6 months. I knew before the importance of
consistency and structure required for successful parenting; I considered
myself fairly consistent and structured…until child number three came along.
While adjusting to three children went much smoother for me than adjusting to
two, there is one area where I am still extremely weak: my memory. Yikes! I
swear I lost more and more of my short-term memory with the birth of each child.
And it’s not just with my children where my memory is bad; it’s in everything, and
it’s frustrating. It is my inconsistency, in conjunction with my lack of
memory, lately that has gotten me disgruntled.
In the past, I have used Behavior Boosters to encourage appropriate
behavior in my children. I LOVE Behavior Boosters! One of my main goals in
parenting is to back up all of my consequences and rewards with scripture. The
Bible gives parents everything they need to know about parenting. For me
though, it is knowing how to apply
those guidelines properly that is tricky. That is where Behavior Boosters came
in. I still plan on using Behavior Boosters to encourage positive behavior in
creative, scripture-based ways, but lately, I have been needing something more.
It was at Bible study last Monday night where I learned
about Doorposts! Eureka! I think am hoping my consistency in parenting
has met the means for change!
I am always giving my children “if-then” statements: “If you
continue to talk back, then you will loose the privilege of playing the Wii
today.” I also LOVE charts! Doorposts combines both of these and provides an
excellent “if-then” chart as well as “The Blessing Chart” for rewards. These
just came in the mail today, and I am beyond eager to begin using them!
In addition to these wonderful charts, Doorposts also makes
a “Brother-Offended” checklist. This is the parenting manipulative I am most
excited about! My six-year-old is becoming the most diligent tattletale. This
is one area where I am at a loss. I want him to tell me if his sister is doing
something that could hurt herself like running into the road, or if she intentionally
hurt another, but I do not want to know every time she throws rocks in the
driveway, goes up the stairs with her shoes on, or rolls her baby sister over.
So, beginning today, we are going to go over the Brother-Offended checklist and
booklet as a family and start implementing this strategy for tattling.
I am super excited about this new regimen we will be
implementing! I will keep you posted as to my progress and if these
manipulatives are going to be better for my memory and, subsequently, my
consistency than any amount of gingko biloba.
I'm always looking for ways to improve my parenting. What have you found to be successful ways to discipline and reward your children? Have you done anything creative? Do you have any suggestions to offer?
