Let me count the ways...

Disciplining children is the worst. I'm a firm believer that all children need boundaries and for each family it's different. And since children are all different sometimes techniques need to be tweaked. I've done everything from time-outs, spankings, threats and taking away toys and/or privileges depending on what the bad behavior was. To be perfectly honest what works best for my kids right now are threats (which I will follow through on if I have to) and taking away toys/privileges. I will use time-outs, which is a corner for Jackie and for Remy it's usually sending him to his room. Spankings are my last resort and it's mostly two to four swats on the bottom, I don't do this very often and like I said it's the very last thing I try.

Anyway, I think I can count on one hand how many times my mom spanked me growing up. I mostly remember getting "the look," and being sent to my room. I'm not saying my mom didn't do other things, but I don't remember if she did. She had a very gentle way about her when it came to us kids. I'm working on having "the look," but I still have a long way to go because sometimes I still find myself hiding a smile. Which leaves me mostly with threats, I must say that I think I've become a pro at finding out what my kids want/like the most and using that to my advantage.

 Example:
When it's bed time, it's bed time. Both of my kids like to sleep with the light on and Jackie also likes her door open. If she makes a big fuss and cries about going to bed then I threaten to turn off the light and/or close her door. I give her roughly three times before I actually do one or both. It goes something like this: "Do you want your door open?" "Yes." "Well then no more crying or mommy will close the door." It may take a few tries but for the most part this works wonders. I did the same thing when Remy was little.

There is always something that I can use on my kids. I've packed up legos, toy trains, tvs  and anything else that was a favorite at the time. Taken away trips to museums, parks and movies. And trust me this works, it can be an inconvenience, but it does work.

Here is a list of some of the threats that Bryan and I have used (I'll let you guess who used what):

• Pick up the toys or no more Barney.
• If I have to pick up your toys then I'm gonna throw them away.
• If you don't let me wash you up I'm gonna turn off the water (during a shower)
• If you want me to read you a story then you better stop crying.
• Alright no Christmas because you're being bad.
• Do you want bubbles in your bath? 
• Do you wanna go to bed?