Do your kids nag, complain, or whine about rules and limits?
Do they attempt to negotiate or beg for more TV, candy, toys, or playtime despite repeated warnings that the issue is not up for discussion?
Do you interpret these behaviors to mean that your kids aren't "listening" to you?
Does that make you feel like you have to set firmer limits, but you don't know how?
I've got a solution for you.
There I was, feeling bewildered, and standing outside the door my eight-year-old had just slammed shut after demanding her privacy.
What just happened?
We were enjoying lunch, I mentioned her dance class starting - and BAM! She turned on a dime. She crossed her arms, glared at me with a squinty gaze, and refused to engage.
Where did I go wrong? Why was she being so disrespectful?
Your children's behaviors may confuse and confound you, too. When there seems to be no rhyme or reason for their actions - when you're faced with defiance - there is one thing you can do to reconnect and teach respect.
