Time out!

So I just finished reading this book. "Screamfree Parenting" I think it absolutely has to be the best parenting book I have ever read! In the book he talks about parenting from the only person you can actually change, you. Even though as parents we would like to think we have control over our children, we can only change our own attitude and actions, and in turn that will ripple to those around you by changing the patterns you are unhappy with. His point is that not everyone actually screams by yelling but sometimes we "scream" by finally giving in after your kid is nonstop nagging you about something, or we might "scream" by just shutting down. The very cool thing about this book is that I have seen drastic changes in our home the last 2 weeks. Merely because I am refusing to "scream." It is the first parenting book that I have actually felt like I could be successful and consistent because I am only changing myself, and I can only get frustrated with myself if I feel like I've "failed" in any given scenario.
I have to say though the other thing I really enjoyed about this book is that I wish I had read it before I began teaching. I used to tell kids all of the time "you control yourself" someone else cannot make you do something, you choose your own actions. I know as a college student I sort of got this because I was later teaching it to kids, but "Screamfree" was very enlightening to me. I was really quite frustrated in the beginning of the book because I kept wondering, "why did I never look at it like this?" But as I finally made it through the book he gave some very realistic scenario's that I could see more clearly exactly what he was talking about. It made me want to teach again very much! I want another chance to really put this into motion, it has completely "revolutionized" my classroom management mind set.

Well, I guess all in all, I would encourage any parent or teacher to read this book, it truely has been the most effective I've ever read!


After reading my book, we still have discipline to follow through with, but I don't feel so crappy when I get after Carson for misbehaving. Here is our latest time out story...

I told Carson he needed to sit in time out, which is usually in front of the closet door right outside of his bedroom. He went over there, and after only throwing a fit for like 5 sec, I finally looked over to see if he was still sitting because he usually screams for a bit longer. However, as I looked to see if he was still sitting he wasn't there, I checked in his bedroom because he sometimes sneaks in there if he doesn't think I'm paying attention, but he wasn't there either. Then, I got a little worried, where did he go?? I looked in my room, and all around, no Carson. Our apartment is not that big, so I start yelling, "Carson, where are you?" Even though I haven't really yelled since reading my book, but I'm getting a little panicked at this point. I finally hear him giggling, and I yelled again, "where are you?" As he is laughing, he says, "I'm in here mom" I open the closet door, and this is what I found.I pulled him out, and we talked about what it means to sit in time out, and this definitely did not qualify!!!