“The night ended with me disciplining a kid because of their poor attitude. What would you have done?”
I was recently out to lunch with a wise friend of mine (it’s probably because he is a doctor but not a real doctor…haha) and we were talking about life and parenting and I shared this story with him.
He suggested I try doing what he and his wife do. Before going into a store or restaurant or even grandparents’ house, they talk with the kids of what behavior is expected. If the kids do not have the expected behavior they just leave. This way there is no arguing or having to discipline in public. They simply get up and walk out.
Most of the time the first warning sets the tone because no kid wants to miss out on pizza and arcade games.
It’s so simple but effective.
Convenient stores tell you at the door, “No Shirt, no shoes, no service.” When was the last time you saw a shoeless and shirtless guy in a convenience store? Or think about your job. What if your boss never talked to you about expectations for your role? You would have no idea what you were supposed to be focusing on.
The same is true for our kids. How are they supposed to know what they are not allowed to do or not do if we never tell them?
And why wait to tell them after the disaster when said disaster could have been prevented if you just set the expectations ahead of time?