The Naughty Corner

Over the last week, Caleb has displayed some cranky and defiant behaviour. He was disagreeable and saying no to a lot of things from eating to sitting to changing. Well, after 3 consecutive days of rather difficult behaviour, I decided that it's time to introduce the naughty corner. This is a technique that I've watched on Super Nanny. Me and Daddy also learnt this from a parenting seminar organised by our church. So I made the executive decision that it's time to introduce this to Caleb.

So on Wednesday, he stood in front of the fan, placed his foot on the base and announced to me that he was stepping on the fan (He was obviously trying to test the limit coz he had this look on his face that told me he was checking out my reaction to see what would happen to him. )

I took on his challenge and told him firmly and sternly to take his foot off the fan coz it's dangerous. He refused to look at me or take his foot off and started a string of "No..no..no" I repeated myself and when he turned to see whether I was looking at him, I gave him a very quiet but stern look. I think he figured he wasn't in a good situation coz he started to monkey around and pretend to laugh.(He also knows how to apply his own techniques!) I refused to react to his antics and repeated myself without giving away any tinge of frustration. After which, he changed tactics again and started to run to me and wanted me to carry him. I told him that he had to apologise, of which, he gave another defiant no and then he decided to dish out his last tactic, which was to act pitiful and wail and cry.

I decided that was it, so I brought him to the corner of our room. Told him firmly in a low tone, that he had to face the wall for 2 minutes and think about what he had done and he has to apologise when I come back for him. Ha! With that, I left him and went off to do my chores. He attempted to follow me once but I told him very firmly again that he has to go stand and face the wall. He obediently went back, faced the wall and started wailing into the wall.

After 2min, I went to get him. He immediately said "Sorry Mummy" without any prompting.(this obviously melted my heart immediately) But I persisted on and reiterated what he had done and why I didn't want him playing with the fan and when he said he understood, we hugged and kissed to reconcile. And off we went to play again! And amazingly, he has been quite agreeable again after that.

We have always read and heard that when kids approach 2 years old, that's when they start to search for their identity and test the limits. As parents, we try to be very consistent in what we say to them as well as in our actions so that they are not confused and feel secure. Caleb definitely has been testing the limits more and more often. It really stretches our patience and endurance in trying to know when to discipline and discipline with love. This is definitely one area which we ask God for wisdom to do and hopefully, in His Grace, we'll be able to bring him up right as we ourselves, struggle to do what we think is best for him.

By the way, even though Caleb's testing the limits more and more, he's still cute lah. Actually in our eyes, he's only getting cuter and cuter.
Being a parent really gives me more insight into God's love for us. Even though we are naughty at times, He will discipline us, but irregardless of that, He still loves us and we are precious in His sight.