This is a test it is only a test!

The other night at Moms group we were discussing different methods of discipline for our unruly children. Two of the moms were talking about how some man had come up with a book on how to go about raising kiddos without having to beat them daily. As my ADD got in the way, I was drifting in and out of the conversation, but one thing I did pick up was the theory of treating your child as you would treat your neighbor. Basically, would you ever talk to your neighbor the way that you talk to your children? WHAT? There is no way I would ever talk to my neighbor the way I talk to my children. This statement for some reason really bothered me. It just kept nagging at me. So I decided to test it out. I figured I would start small and try it on the easiest of the three kids. So Libby got to be the guinea pig. Basically Landry only knows his name if you yell it and I’m not sure if Lincoln even knows he has a name yet! So the middle child it was! So yesterday was the test day. Good morning Libby, how are you this morning? In her sweetest voice she says “hi mommy I love you”. Ok this was going good so far! As the morning went on I continued to give my best to my new “Neighbor”, and things were running smooth, and just as I was beginning to have hope, Libby says Mommy and as I turn around she spits chocolate milk all over my face and then burst out laughing. My thoughts………You are soooo lucky you are my child and not my neighbor! So theory one, FAIL!!! At that point it occurred to me, the reason I don’t talk to my kids the same as my neighbor is because THEY ARE KIDS!!! And they are mine. My neighbor would never jump on the couch, or spit milk in my face. They would never back talk me or argue about the color of a sock. And if they did, I would absolutely take out my wooden spoon! And really, how many times have you had neighbors who after living next to them for just a short time you think to yourself, their mama should have beat them more when they were kids!! So as one simple mom I will continue to search for a better method!