Parent discipline Ugh!

[lufttiger]

Well my little girl had swim class last night, she went up a level due to her
being way ahead of her class. The new instructor had 5 students and would take one at a time to show them how to do kicks & strokes. So when she is waiting her turn, she would dive underwater, just having fun. But when the instructor came back and was showing the other kids how to hold their hands together, she was still messing arround underwater.

After a couple times of this i went over to her and told her "If you don't start lisening to the teacher i'm gonna pull you out of this class", I had to yell this
because it was so loud in there. Well i never yell, nor do i ever really need to discipline her, she just a good kid.

Thats all it took, and a total meltdown started.
I could see she was trying to keep it in, but it didn't work. I left her alone,
thinking should i pull her out or not??

I'll give her credit she kept going, and did everything that she was supposed while still crying. At the end of class, she was a mess, and now i'm feeling like a real $$%*#.

Later that night neither one of us could sleep, after a talk i think she and i
both feel better now. I just need to remember "She's only 5"

[cyberia]

LT, parenting is a constant learning experience. Don't beat yourself up for being human. I think it's safe to say we've all been there.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by cyberia

I think it's safe to say we've all been there.

Children do not come with instruction manuals. Thankfully they don't usually break when we are tough on them from time to time.

[Panzermacher]

LT if I had a nickel for everytime I made a child cry.....well.....Trump and Gates would have some competition! Wait til she hits the "tender teenage" years where just a word form you can bring tears! (Usually that word is NO.....in response to things such as...."Can I have the car tonight?" or "I gotta have those expensive clothes, everyone else has them!")

It's parenthood and tears come with the job unfortunately

[Tom Houlihan]

It took you five years to make your kid cry??? Wow, yer doing good!!!

[Aussie Dave]

Pack your bags, you're going on a guilt trip.
Q: Why?
A: Because you're a loving father mate.

Sorry LT, but it proverbly won't be the last time you make her cry.

My dad was quite tough on my siblings and I when we were growing up and when were very naughty we were smacked. (Not beaten and always only on the butt.)
I remember afterwards my father would say to me, "You know that hurt me more than it hurt you."

At the time I didn't believe him, but as I am a father now myself, I can easily understand the truth in what he was saying.
He loved us kids and making us cry did hurt him more than our punnishment hurt us.

He also taught me through discipline that there are consequences for your own actions and bad behaviour, which taught me "right from wrong" and shaped me for the better to the man I am now.
(I loved my dad, but I also feared him when I was naughty and that kept me behaved... Well most of the time anyway.)

Besides kids do cry, it starts at birth and later often its over trivial matters or when they can't get there own way, so don't be upset with yourself too much.


Cheers,
Dave

[Commander Waffle]

Well, without you...she'll turn into a girl you don't want to turn into.

[lufttiger]

Thanks for your wisdom guys, i sure apreciate the support.:smile:

[Commander Waffle]

Originally Posted by lufttiger

Thanks for your wisdom guys, i sure apreciate the support.:smile:

Now when you get drunk and duct tape her to a tree..than she can get pissed...I sure as hell did!

[Whiterook]

I agree that you're being too hard on yourself. Bringing up kids today is no small feat, and she knows you love her tons! Remember that showing a child the way in life is one of the hardest, and most rewarding jobs on this fine planet of ours. Hang tight, buddy!