Discipline isn't for wimps!
The Lord has given me a passion for healthy discipline. I think it began when I student taught and my co-operating teacher said it was the worst behaved class she had seen in years! I was a little overwhelmed but I took the advice of many mentors and found how effective follow through can be.
I recalled on my lessons learned when I was student teaching and put them into practice when I taught sixth grade reading. This too was a class that the teachers said they had not seen behavior so badly from in years. I once again loved the kids and followed through. Yeah...some of them did not like me but they ended up behaving, getting good grades, and actually feeling proud of themselves.
I continued to gain experience when I taught seventh grade in a charter school last year. This was by far the hardest experience I had ever had and yes, tears were shed on my part...and probably the kids, but the Lord gave me insight and wisdom! By the end of the year I rarely had detentions and had to merely give "the look" to my students and they would behave. Once again...follow through was the key!
Then...eleven and half months again a beautiful, and might I say, very curious little boy entered my life. The past few months as he can stand and crawl, very quickly, around the house I have had to recall on those "follow through" skills. At first I thought, "he's too little to be disciplined yet." I guess you could say I've done a little experiment with Anderson and I have really followed through - when I say ,"NO"...I mean "NO!" I have to say...I am already seeing the benefits of follow through. An eleven month old can listen! This has been exhausting (why I say it's not for wimps) but it is worth it. I can honestly tell Anderson feels loved knowing he has boundaries within his life. Yes, he's a normal kid that was more than ready to leave Cracker Barrel today but he is learning to listen and I'm learning (along with Mark) to continue to follow through!
About to be told "NO" when he starts to pull EVERYTHING out!
I recalled on my lessons learned when I was student teaching and put them into practice when I taught sixth grade reading. This too was a class that the teachers said they had not seen behavior so badly from in years. I once again loved the kids and followed through. Yeah...some of them did not like me but they ended up behaving, getting good grades, and actually feeling proud of themselves.
I continued to gain experience when I taught seventh grade in a charter school last year. This was by far the hardest experience I had ever had and yes, tears were shed on my part...and probably the kids, but the Lord gave me insight and wisdom! By the end of the year I rarely had detentions and had to merely give "the look" to my students and they would behave. Once again...follow through was the key!
Then...eleven and half months again a beautiful, and might I say, very curious little boy entered my life. The past few months as he can stand and crawl, very quickly, around the house I have had to recall on those "follow through" skills. At first I thought, "he's too little to be disciplined yet." I guess you could say I've done a little experiment with Anderson and I have really followed through - when I say ,"NO"...I mean "NO!" I have to say...I am already seeing the benefits of follow through. An eleven month old can listen! This has been exhausting (why I say it's not for wimps) but it is worth it. I can honestly tell Anderson feels loved knowing he has boundaries within his life. Yes, he's a normal kid that was more than ready to leave Cracker Barrel today but he is learning to listen and I'm learning (along with Mark) to continue to follow through!
About to be told "NO" when he starts to pull EVERYTHING out!
Hey Jen. I just told a co-worker the other day that it is so hard to discipline Grant. I'm not a fan of spanking because I feel that there are so many other options. I was telling her that it seems easier to just spank him....finding ways to be creative with discipline takes work!!
ReplyDeleteIf "no" doesn't mean NO now...it wont when he is 2, 5, 7, or 17!
-Stephanie
You are so right Stephanie - it pays to start now!
ReplyDelete