The "ART" of Parenthood

Parenting is like an artform. We all have different techniques in which we use to create our little masterpeices. Recently I've found my techniques to be lacking. I have been searching for new techniques in which to sharpen my skill and ability in the art of Parenthood. Like all techniques the more we practice the better we become. The more comfortable we are in using those techniques, the greater our masterpeice becomes.

One technique that I have been concentrating on is called the Emotional Bank Account. Every day we need to be depositing 10 positives into our children's emotional bank account. So when the time comes for us to make a withdrawl, or discipline them their account stays in the positive. They know that we still love them despite the discipline.

Let me give you one really easy example. It comes in the form of chores. Before when I would go to check on my children's rooms I would only point out all the things that they didn't do = withdrawl, withdrawl, withdrawl. Instead, now I point out all the postive and good things that they did do. For instance, "You did a great job making your bed, folding your clothes, and picking up your floor. Looking around can you see anything else that needs to be done?" The child then looks around and sees what else needs to be done, and DOES IT!! This might sound tedious and laborious! But I am here to say that IT WORKS!!! Not only am I building that bank account, they recognize what they need to do without me having to ask them. Confession time: This has worked 7 times out of 10. But I keep practicing and it keeps getting better. I'm not yelling at my kids, or nagging them. Plus I'm only pointing out the good that they've done = deposit, deposit, deposit.

I'm listening to a cd that instructs on 11, count them, 11 positive discipline techniques. It's overwhelming to think about all 11 at once. So I'm just concentrating on one at a time. Emotional Bank Accounting is working for me, so far.