Consequence Box

The other day, when the boys and I were at Target, Blane was not in the mood for obeying. As we headed to the car to go home, I made the mistake of telling him his "consequence" was that he was going directly to bed for a nap upon arrival, so I paid for that by having to strap in a screaming, kicking preschooler with the van door shut.

He cried all the way home. When he started to wane a bit, I told him that every time he didn't listen to Mommy, he would have a consequence, or a bad thing that he didn't like, given to him. If he did what was right, he wouldn't get a consequence.

I don't know what it was in how I worded things, but for some reason, Blane tearfully asked if I would get consequences out of a box and give them to him.

(Hmmm...hadn't thought of it that way, but hey, if it works for you.. )

"Yes, Blane, I'll get my consequences out if you don't act right. If you don't obey, I will leave them in the box."

That little mental picture has worked well for him over the past week. I hope it has an expiration date sometime after the age of 18.