Easy Cowboy

I think I'm being too hard on Jr.

I find myself constantly correcting his behavior  For example, three times this week I picked him up at day care and he didn't have his whatever-jersey-of-the-day on.  It's an indicator that at one point during the day that he was not, "being a good listener."

I ask him every time,  "Peyton.  Why aren't you wearing your jersey?"

He will avoid eye contact, look at the floor and quietly mumble, "I don't know."

I then tell him that he has to be a good listener and that mommy and dada don't like it when he is not a good listener.  I then say, "Dada is very upset you didn't listen to your teacher."

He will then say sorry and try and give me a hug.  Today I didn't let him hug me. I told him that I was upset with him and he doesn't get dessert tonight.  When he knows he is in trouble he will breakout and say  something sweet.  Today's line was "Dada, you're my friend!"  I looked at him and said, "Dada doesn't want to be your friend if you're not a good listener."  He didn't like that.  I felt a guilty for saying that to him.  I think I wouldn't be as upset if this was his first having his jersey taken away.  It's his third.  There have only been four days this week.

Then during his bath I told him no to put this toy tube in his mouth and drink the water.  He did...again, three times.  I firmly told him we were done with his bath and he needed to stand up. He proceeded to still play with stuff in the tub. I again firmly told him we were done.  Again he tries to pick up a toy. I grab his wrist and yank him out of the tub.  It startled him and he started crying.

I know. He's three and a half.  He hears me. He's ignoring me.  

I do think about my parenting skills and while I'm far from perfect, I'm not horrible either.    However, this article at Babycenter.com about "Moving beyond threats" got me self-analyzing my methods.  I realized that I do say to Jr., "Dada is going to take away your jerseys if you yell again" or something along those lines.  Whatever - just a threat.  That can't be good. But then again, he knows there is a consequence.

Man, these are the trying threes.