Layla is a good kid. A great kid even. She is quite happy to do what she wants, helps out when we have things to do and even listens to us when we ask her to do something. Usually.
Now I’m no expert on kids, psychology, parenting or being a Dad but I have 2+ years of experience under my belt and I know what doesn’t work with Layla. What works? I’m still not 100% sure, but I’m figuring it out. I’ve tried many different methods – sometimes yelling works, sometimes spanking works, sometimes just the threat of no dessert works. But then, sometimes she just yells back, sometimes she just asks to be spanked again and sometimes she is happy to have no dessert… then what do you do? Tamie has found a solution that seems to work for her pretty well.
When we were in Canada over Christmas, someone taught Layla the “I got your nose” game. For a while she was taking everything from our noses to our ears to whatever she could reach. She loved it. When we turned it around, however, and got her nose or her ears, she wasn’t too happy and always demanded we give it back. It’s hilarious, at least for me. For Tamie, it’s useful.
It’s not uncommon these days when Layla starts acting up to hear Tamie say something along the lines of “If you don’t listen to me, I’m going to take your ears!”… and, surprisingly, it’s not uncommon for Layla to do what her Mom says after that.
I don’t attempt to use Tamie’s technique, mostly because I doubt I could keep a straight face… but it works for Tamie. And that’s good news for all of us.