I’m running a course in handling conflict in a fortnight for some corporate clients. It occurs to me that I need a mini-version of this course for dealing with the phase our son, Monty, is currently experiencing. I posted a question about it on TwinsClub and have had some useful answers so far. I reckon most good ideas will come from this forum. It seems like such a rich source of valuable experience for us.
In my post I said that Monty’s tactics seem to be as follows:
“1 Don’t answer Mummy and Daddy, just suck thumb and stare blankly at them.
2 Scream when they turn the television off EVERY night. Howl and cry as loudly as possible. Switch on turbo tantrum booster if necessary.
3 Refuse to obey simple commands.
4 Don’t eat supper; especially when they ask me if I want something and I have said yes to it.
5 Change my mind frequently.
6 When they lift me up to dress, undress, or make me do anything else not on my plan become an instant slinky and collapse in a heap.
7 Don’t tell them what I want or don’t want. Make ‘em guess. It seems to really annoy them.
8 Throw a tantrum as soon as they turn off the light at bed-time.
9 Do the opposite of whatever I’m told unless they’re just trying to trick me into doing what they want.
10 Nod and say I understand simple commands and then, when challenged, pretend I haven’t a clue what they’re talking about.
11 Just occasionally nod and say yes ok I would like to go on the naughty step.
12 Always be on high alert for opportunities to annoy Mummy and Daddy or misbehave.
Although we use the naughty step and occasionally confiscate toys, we need more options. Serious heart to heart talks have no effect either. We have “How to Listen so Children will talk” etc but I haven’t the time to read it for a few weeks. I’m hoping there’ll be some useful nuggets of wisdom in there.
Progress on this issue will be reported in the coming weeks, months and years no doubt.
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