I have lived through my first two weeks of having a job. It wasn't easy, and it's something I don't want to have to do for the rest of my life, but I have lived. Why do you have that look of surprise on your face? Well, thanks for your concern, but I'm doing just fine. We have amazing soft serve, and that makes it all worthwhile.
After spending the weekend telling my child not to touch anything, to quit hitting, and that his actions may just force mama to open up a can of whoop ass I have realized
that he must have been abducted by aliens what a bad little boy my dear baby is turning into. Thank God he never hit (no pun intended) the terrible twos, because his behavior at the age of 4.5 makes up for every bit of it. I'm not sure what to do. Don't get me wrong, 80% of the time he is still a very well behaved little boy, but there is a 20% there that is almost too terrible for words.
He gets mad and hits. Not strangers, but myself, my mother, and Pup. Not in the face, but on the leg or knee. It's a very ugly site. If someone makes him mad by not letting him have his way then he smacks them very hard on the knee and goes and sits by himself. I've tried smacking him back, not hard mind you, although sometimes I'd like to backhand him through a wall. (My, did I let that one slip?) That doesn't work, and I agree that hitting him back shows him that it's okay to hit, which is probably why he continues, but what the heck do I do? I've tried time out, and that just makes him so mad that he's in a pissy mood for the rest of the night (i.e. more hitting). Do I take his pants down and wear out his little hiny? He's never been spanked before. I know. I know. Spare the rod and spoil the child, or so the Bible says, but I mean really I didn't think it should ever come to that. I thought that I would have a child who understood certain rules and values and that a simple time out would suffice. It has not at this point.
If you tell him not to do something he does it a couple more times, regardless. This, to me, seems like testing his boundaries. I need to put a stop to it immediately, and show him that those boundaries are firm, but how do I do that exactly? Or how do YOU do it is what I should be asking. I've watched Super Nanny in the past and laughed that people would let their kids get into such horrible condition, but I am seeing myself in a similar predicament within the next couple of years if I don't change my ways.
He is my only child. My baby. I agree that if I had other children to tend to that he wouldn't get spoiled so much, but I just can't help it. As hard as this is to admit, I feel that I sometimes try to make up for my sore attempts at parenting (which is especially hard all on your own, mind you) by giving him everything that he wants. I mean, not everything, but if we are out, and he sees something that he likes I will get it if we have the money. I' not talking big things, but like swords and cheap video games for his DS, and the like. I do baby him when he gets a "boo-boo," and I just feel like that's what mothers are for. He doesn't have a father to "straighten him out," although Pup does a fine job with what things he knows to do, but he is not a parent, and most of the time when he tries to be strict with him I just feel like he's being too hard on him, and I make him stop which has made him start to not even bother.
I have gotten myself into a pickle, and I'm hoping that someone will pop out of this "online parenting world" that I have submerged myself in and tell me what to do. Do I bust his cute little arse? Do I send him to his room? Okay, so it's my room too, and we still sleep together. (OMG. Why did I let that one out of the bag?) I believe in co-parenting. Okay?!? Isn't that the term they use when they just want to baby their kids? Well, that's me. Wow. I'm a horrible mother. Go ahead. Tell me. *covering her head with a pillow*
Let me in on the scoop. How do I make this bad little boy I have been blessed with recently mind?!
I was thinking about this same thing over the weekend while we were out. He got to ride go karts, and do everything that a little boy would love to do. Yet, while I was perusing through the flea market, really only looking for things for him, I could not get him to quit bothering everything. If I'd tell him not to touch he would simply slide it over with his elbow and look at me like, "Well, I'm not touching it." He would grab everything that caught his eye. The poor lady in the sword shop who had a bunch of ninja-type swords on display was very happy to see us leave, I'm sure.
Responsibility was the only thing that came to my mind, as I am not a violent person. I don't really want to spank his butt, in other words, although I will if nothing else works. I just kept thinking that maybe if I give him a bit more responsibility at home that he will take more responsibility for himself and his actions in public. Is this true? It's worth a shot to me, at least.
Then, I guess if all else fails, the butt-whooping will commence.
I thought about an offer I had received from Danielle at TidyKidz.com, and it has sent me running to her inbox to beg on my hands and knees. I need help!! I'm ready to start my subscription lady! All humanity depends on it!
What ever happened to my sweet little boy? I feel as though it's my fault. I must've done everything wrong.
