The most challenging part of being a father to Reilly is getting her ready for school in the morning. I do not exaggerate. The time between 7:00 and 8:00 every morning is enough to crush even the most patient of souls.
Most of the problem comes from the fact that Reilly has fully discovered her free will. A sample conversation:
Me: “Reilly, time to get dressed.”
Reilly: “No, I’ll do it!”
Me: “Okay, I’ll sit over here at the table.”
Reilly: “No, sit over there daddy! On the couch!”
Me: “Okay, fine. Daddy will sit on the couch and watch you get dressed.”
Reilly: “No, I want to eat my bagel!”
Me: “Okay, you can eat your bagel and then get dressed.”
Reilly: “No! I don’t have to!”
Me: “Reilly, we are going to be late. I need you to get dressed or I’ll have to dress you.”
Reilly: “Okay. I get dressed Daddy.” Reilly then walks over to the couch and is distracted by a puzzle. “Let’s do a puzzle, Daddy!”
Me: Speechless, because my brain has exploded in my skull.
This morning, after not going potty for daddy, not eating her bagel for daddy, throwing her milk on the floor for daddy, and refusing to get dressed for daddy, all the while demanding Special Treats and stamps from daddy, I decided to put Reilly in Time Out.
I counted off a minute, then went back in, gave Reilly a hug, and explained to her that she was in Time Out because she was not listening to her daddy. I then told her that she should come out of Time Out and get dressed.
Her reply: “No! I want to stay in Time Out!”
So how do I respond when my daughter prefers the punishment over the thing she is being punished for?
Reilly 1, Daddy 0.
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