Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Threats and wet noodles






One of the things I found hardest about traveling this time around was dealing with discipline. Oliver seemed to instinctively know that he would get away with pretty much anything in the airport (or any other public space for that matter) cause he took advantage of our lack of experience every chance he got. He would run away, he didn't come when called, we chased him down and he'd go all wet noodle so we had to drag him back. It was alot of fun!

I felt very torn about how to deal with him. Normally time outs work well but you can't always do that when you're in public. Taking him out of the situation is a great idea in theory but it's not always possible. There were alot of threats that went un-actioned which we all know is a really great parenting technique. We did alot of speaking to him quietly and forcefully to which he laughed in our face. He just ran wild and we pretty much let him. I think alot of the problem is that I'm afraid of attracting negative attention from other people when I discipline my child the way I choose. We got some really nice looks at a restaurant at one point because Nick was trying to make him eat after he hadn't eaten anything in 2 days. (Eating was another issue but that's another blog post).

So when it comes down to it, I'm a big part of the problem but I'm not sure what else to do. We certainly did our best to get back to the proper discipline while we were at the house and after we got back home to Pang. Now we are now fighting an uphill battle to have him listen even half as well as he did before we left. I'm sure I'm not alone in this problem so I'll take suggestions if you have them. We will be traveling again in August so I have a while to do some research on the subject. Then again, he'll be that much older so that could help too. Never a dull moment with a 2 year old huh?


7 comments:

jen said...

That was the same restaurant that I got a dirty look and a disproving tone from the waitress when I let Moira try some coke. "So young!" All those granola crunchers can suck it.

Matt, Kara, Hunter and Cavan said...

I totally get dirty looks cause I will put the kids in a time out anywhere!!!! I am an evil parent.

We also do time ins where the kids has to sit on our lap pinned to us for a couple of minutes. Works well too.

Matt, Kara, Hunter and Cavan said...

Oh, and we are also pro-leashing our kids in public. :)

Melodie said...

Hopefully he'll grow out of it as it seems he's in his 'terrible two's'. But ugh, that's pretty much why I can't bother having kids. :( It's sad...because I know there are good times too.

Anonymous said...

We always had a huge adjustment period when we got back from IPA's because it is so hard on them being out of their routine for a month at a time, flying, being in situations (ie. restaurants) that they just aren't used to. I don't really have any advice (because your experiences sound much like my own:) but just know you are not alone, and it does get easier as they get older.

P.S. I LOVE the shirts you have the boys in for your banner - Thing 1 and 2 - those are AWESOME!!!!!

Heather said...

I don't know if this will help at all, but as someone who used to work in a daycare, your story doesn't surprise me. It was a big daycare divided by age groups, and "graduating" kids from one room to another meant mild chaos relearning rules for the next few days. Kids under 5 years old have a hard time transferring rules from one place to another, they have to re-learn them everywhere they go. No matter how good (or bad) your kid is at home, going somewhere new means lots of reinforcement of rules you thought they knew... they pick up(the rules they "should" know) really quick if you can get over the embarassment of being strict in public. Don't let the looks from strangers get to you!
Sounds like he's a smart kid, and two year olds test rules anyways... should get better with time and discipline.

Morena said...

Kara, you're not evil you're doing what you should. I just feel strange about it though I know I shouldn't. I just have to get over it I guess. And we talked about the leashes but we just can't do it. No judgement to people who do, there were kids in leashes all over Disney. I just don't think it's for us.... but it would make life easier.

Lindsay, I love the shirts too. They are from Universal Studios as their kids area is all Cat in the Hat themed. We didn't go but when I got to Disney there was a family of 4 and they were all wearing them Thing 1 through 4. I had to have them so my sister in law picked them up when they went there.