What's It Gonna Cost Ya?

Every parent will tell you, you have to find each child's "currency" when it comes to disciplining them. Each child is different and each will respond differently to consequences given as punishment when they misbehave.

Ben's was easy. Yes we "spanked". NO we never did it out of anger and always explained why we were doing it, hugged after, etc... . But it wasn't long and when we'd tell him, "You're gonna have to get a spanking for that," Ben was like, "Oh. Okay." and it didn't deter the behavior we were trying to eliminate.

Enter his love for trains. Thomas the Tank Engine trains, to be exact (again...thanks Aunt Ang). The very first time we took a train away as punishment...BOOM...he got it. "Okay. Won't be doing that again.". It was great. A win-win, if you will.

And then came Shelby. She always hated getting spankings and to be honest, it's obviously something I never enjoyed doing. What parent does?

Meet Shelby's currency:

My little angel can't seem to keep her hands off other people's stuff. Namely mine and Ben's stuff. I can't tell you how many times we've told her, "Just ask first!". Most recently it was fingernail polish remover and spilling it all over a wood table (yes...table is ruined), playing with my makeup, perfume, closet, Ben's room and rearranging furniture in the game room.

So today I did what I have always considered would be more of a punishment for me than her (since I'd have to listen to the aftermath). I took Pink Puppy. Yes I get I should've done it sooner. Don't judge me.

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat???!!!"

"Yep. Gimme it."

"She's not an IT. She's a girl!"

"Okay. Gimme HER."

"But Mommy!"

So I get her and Belle follows me to see where her friend is being taken. Obviously so she can continue to check on Pink Puppy and my guess...even sneak off with her. I'm just sayin'.

I tell her she can't watch where I put her. She has to have total separation from her. Only then will she understand what's happened. She reluctantly complies with one final request, "Can I have one last sniff?"

No.

I gotta say. So far. So good. She's stubborn though.

No need for comments telling me where she got said stubborn streak from. Thank you very much.