by Amanda Devlin

Created on: April 25, 2008

The first thing we need to address is the fact that every child is different in some way. I have two children and they are like "night" and "day". My daughter is a very laid back child for being 2. She doesn't require much discipline because she listens the first time you say something. She's the child you can just give that look to and she deters her attention towards other things and starts behaving appropriately. My son, however, is quite the opposite. He just turned three in December and the terrible two's turning into the horrible three's. Don't get me wrong, when he is good, he is good.

Like the other morning, when I woke him up to get ready for daycare, he hugged and kissed me and told me he loved me. So very sweet, but then he starts the not listening. Now, I understand that a lot of times when I talk he hears the first three words and just stops listening so I have to make those first three words matter. He is very stubborn and seems to enjoy whining. So, he requires more discipline, more direction and sometimes you have to just deter his way of thinking.

I have tried every method of disciplining and sometimes I run out of options. Kids just sometimes misbehave. I don't think that it is the parents fault. My children live in a stable environment with a mother and father that are home every evening and we venture out and do fun stuff on the weekends. We have boundaries and rules that they both must abide by, but my three year will push those boundaries until he hits a wall. And that wall is me. I have always been the parent that gives him options, but within reason. I want him to be able to make decisions for himself as his age progresses, but I still want the hugs and kisses and love to remain. However, for some reason and this is only in public he tends to throw fits if he doesn't get his way. Especially at Wal-Mart. Now, I dislike Wal-mart for a variety of reasons and am a big believer that the toy section should be moved to the back of the store when the Garden Center is. Because I have always told them when they can have a toy they may pick out one. I never wanted to over spoil my children if I did have the means to do it. I want them to understand that I work hard for my money and money isn't something that you waste.

Yes, I know, three is a young age to instill such lessons in your child, but the younger you start the more likely it will stay with them. So, teaching my children the value of money is important, however, it is beginning to backfire

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