Every day is full of disciplinary challenges with my two little children. Mandy is in to throwing fits, throwing plates and silverware, and hitting -- that is for another topic. Arg. And Emma has taken to lying about things great or small. I confront every disobedience with what I believe is an appropriate punishment. The challenge comes with the girls' age difference and their understanding of different punishments. When I put Emma in "time-out", known as the naughty seat at our house, Mandy LOVES to join her. She pats Emma's back if she's crying and tries to give her a hug. Usually Emma shouts, "I'm not in the mood!", but Mandy doesn't care.
The other day Emma blamed Mandy for writing in ink all over my jumbo wall calendar. My calendar is the brains of this household, so keeping it organized and scribble free is a priority. I was mad and I also know Mandy couldn't have done it. I seriously don't know why I ever thought I was smarter than my parents -- sorry mom and dad! Mandy would have had to be at least a foot taller, be able to uncap a pen, scribble in straight lines like writing, recap the pen, move the stool she used to climb up on and then disappear into the bedroom and resume playing with the kitchen. Not likely. Emma was immediately given a punishment for lying plus put on the naughty seat to think about what she had done; not only destroying my property but lying to get someone else in trouble. Before I knew it, Mandy was on the step beside Emma comforting her. Mandy got up when Emma was still throwing her "I wish I hadn't been caught fit" and returned with two books which happened to be Bibles. Emma calmed right down and started "reading" her familiar Bible stories to Mandy. It was an excellent opportunity and I opened up one of the Bibles (an actually New Testament) and read to them what God had to say about disobedience. I couldn't resist the picture, praying that this was a lesson learned.
"The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in (children) who are truthful." Prov. 12:22
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