conuly

Good point about overdoing time-outs. WHen you're having to do them over and over again for the same offense, they're going to lose their effectiveness. And clearly Angelique *does* know she's not supposed to do it, because she's not resisting you when you tell her to spit out the gum.

(Out of curiosity, why isn't she allowed to have gum? I mean, not the ABC kind.)

May I share an Appalling Parent story? I was at McDonald's the other day (we go there fairly often so Sam can play on the equipment - or rather, can watch the other kids play.) There were a couple of brothers, and the younger one hit his brother. Dad immediately put him in time out. So far so good. But the boy pulled back his fist as if to hit dad, although he didn't actually hit him -- and Dad sat there goading him! He kept saying, "Go on, hit your Dad, see what happens. Go on, hit me!" And the poor boy was crying and crying, his fist pulled back, but he never hit his dad because he knew he'd get in bigger trouble. Here's a hint, Dad: never goad your child into doing something that you and he both know is wrong, and that you would only turn around and punish him for. Sheesh!

And on another totally unrelated topic, although you've probably posted something about it before. What do you think about these claims going around nowadays about blaming vaccines for autism?