Part 1 of 5

When I think about the word discipline, the thought of punishment is the first thing that pops into my head.  Is that what you’re thinking too?

It might surprise you that the word Discipline has many different meanings.
My i-phone dictionary lists these two:

1: the act of punishing 

2: to punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience.

Truth be told, this is the place that I’m most comfortable with in my parenting.  My husband, Jeff, and I have bought into the idea that parental authority begins at birth. When our children were babies, we as their parents set their schedules. You know, make them take naps and all!  As toddlers, we expected them to obey when we gave instruction the first time we asked and followed up with appropriate discipline…as in the definition that insinuates punishment…if they did not obey. As our children have grown, we have been intentional about explaining the moral reason why we expect them to behave a certain way and then expect them to follow suit. Again, following up with appropriate discipline if the kids do not obey and always making sure to reconcile the relationship with our children once the discipline process and tears subside.  If you have, in fact, done your job of setting yourself up as the authority in the home and taken the time in the moral training of your children, transition into the next phase of parenting should be a smooth one.  Notice that I say smooth…Not easy!

Before we dig any deeper into the topic at hand, let’s take a few days to think about the following:

*Does my child view me as the authority in the home? If not, what needs to change to take him/her out of the driver’s seat and get me back in?

*As my child has grown, has the way I communicate expectations and hold him/her accountable changed? Am I still disciplining my child as I would a toddler, or allowing natural/logical consequences be the form of punishment?

See you in a few days!

Click here for part 2 of 5: Disciplining your Middle School Children [punishment or training]
Click here for part 3 of 5: Disciplining your Middle School Children [pro-active vs re-active]
Click here for part 4 of 5: Disciplining your Middle School Children [moral training]
Click here for part 5 of 5: Disciplining your Middle School Children [discipline or vision]