 Four Questions: A Guide for Parents
For many of us, using Positive Discipline tools is not intuitive. We were raised with other methods that may not have been encouraging or respectful. And because that's how we grew up, that style tends to be our default, (sometimes to our dismay!). Here are four questions (thank you, Laurie Prusso, Positive Discipline colleague in Livermore) that have been serving as my guideposts the last few weeks:
1. Will [my actions] strengthen our relationship? Will my child know he is loved?
2. Am I looking for solutions and long-term learning, or looking for blame and venting my own feelings?
3. Am I in control of MYSELF-- am I being what I want him to be: patient, respectful, kind, thoughtful, curious, resilient?
4. Can I use my sense of humor and recognize that his behavior is related to maturity and to what he has learned so far?
Reflecting on these questions will be part of my plan for the New Year, too. I'm thinking doing so may be the key to my Happiness Project. . .
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