We had soccer this weekend and it was freezing with a capital F. Luckily, my four-year-old daughter plays at 8:30 a.m. and then there's an hour break before my six-year-old son's game (sense the sarcasm?).
Last week we warmed up in the car in between games, but as I was feeling like an extra nice mom, I suggested we get hot chocolate at a little place across the street. We decided on muffins, too. Well, the nice moment was short-lived as my four-year-old decided she wanted orange juice, too–and sharing mine was an unacceptable in her eyes.
She proceeded to get upset and tried to grab my juice. I told her that isn't a nice way to act and if she kept it up, she wouldn't be getting her hot chocolate and we would leave. Well, my calm reasoning didn't work out so well and she got even madder.
I stood up and asked the waitress to pack our muffins to go just as she was bringing them out and put my son's hot chocolate in a to-go cup. We walked to the car where she proceeded to cry complete with telling me, "You're not my mom!" (see video clip...see how nice I am that I'll share my tortured morning with all of you!)
At that point, I decided ignoring her was the best bet. Though she continued to cry until we got out to go to my son's game, I just kept walking with her following behind. As his team's coach, I got the kids warming up and one of her friends showed up and then, like a switch, my happy little girl was back.
When we got home, it was straight to her room for a little rest. Other methods we've used to combat behavior include a chart system that rewarded positive behavior with stickers; the naughty shelf where toys go when the kids act up and they can then earn back with good behavior; and of course, there are some days when there's yelling!
How do you deal with bad behavior from your kids? What tactics have you used that have proven successful?
