Today’s post is written by my very lovely and talented daughter Bee.
In my mind, when I think about the possibility of having children at some point in the next 5-10 years (god, is that all? *panics slightly* maybe I’ll wait till I’m 40,) I envision myself being the perfect parent. I’d have a freezer stocked full of pureed celeriac in heart shaped ice cube trays and a series of development enhancing, bespoke, organic wood toys that I could watch my children play on, supervised by their father Harry Styles, through the window of my beautiful office filled with matching antique furniture as I bang out my fifth award winning novel on my vintage typewriter.
Seems legit right?
This is obviously all very naïve of me, but I do feel like there is quite often a wrong and right when it comes to parenting decisions. Do I let them have Maltesers and a Fruit Shoot for lunch? No. Should I make them brush their teeth before they go to bed? Yes.
Note to self: this is not OK for breakfast
One area that I don’t have a strategic action plan for though is discipline. On one hand, I’m not taking any shite from a toddler who thinks they can do whatever they want. I birthed you and you will have the upmost respect for me at all times, young man.
However I don’t want to be mean, because they are probably going to be adorable. If I shouted at them I would feel like I just kicked a puppy and now it won’t look me in the eyes. I also really want my kids to like me, just like Marlin from Finding Nemo:
“What if they don’t like me?”
“Marlin, there are over 400 eggs. Odds are one of them is bound to like you”*
My own mother** will say that her disciplinary methods are wishy-washy and inconsistent but to be honest, I think she’s got it down. I wouldn’t consider myself to have been too much of a terrible child or a rebellious teen, but whenever I did do something wrong it was usually resolved, not with screaming and a meaningless punishment, but an adult conversation where we worked the issue out. Any punishment given would usually be related to the crime, enabling me to set right whatever I had done wrong. I think that because it was dealt with in this way, I usually felt genuinely sorry for my actions and not just like my Mum was over reacting or being a bitch.
I’ve never been grounded, simply because having a plausible excuse to not leave the house for an extended period of time would be a reward to me, not a punishment.
Have you got any discipline techniques that work every time? Are you still trying to work out your discipline style? The way you approach punishing your children obviously will vary with each individual child and will change with age.
The adorable children’s furniture site Room to Grow are looking for parents to give their views on disciplining their child by taking their new survey. You can submit your answers anonymously, but if you provide your details you can be in with the chance to win a £250 voucher to spend on the site! Fab, yes?
The purpose of this short survey is to gain an understanding of the different UK parental attitudes and practices towards child discipline, so your opinions will be really valued should you participate.
Take part in the survey now to be in with a chance to win £250 to spend at Room to Grow!
Good luck!
*I quoted that entirely from memory. I know all the words to Finding Nemo. The whole film. Every word.
**Note from Editor – that’s me readers!
Disclosure: this is a sponsored post on behalf of Room to Grow. Photo credit – Eldriva.
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