Allowing our kids to suffer the natural consequences of their actions is an effective discipline technique. Like most parenting methods, the key to success is consistency. Last week Tyler decided to test me on not one but two occasions. I had to make a trip to Tennessee and while walking down the frozen food isle at Publix he decided this would be an ideal time to throw a tantrum. I politely informed him that if he didn’t stop he would get a spanking and not get any ice-cream.
He decided he would not stop so I had to follow throw with a few swats to the lower leg. After informing him that he was not getting ice-cream I proceeded to the checkout. He trudged along behind me crying very loudly while I ignored his cries and the looks of strangers. At the checkout he informed me that if he couldn’t have ice-cream he wasn’t going to eat his lunch. “Suit yourself,” I said in a bored tone. He then grabbed his microwave pizza, stormed to the frozen food isle, and put the pizza back. All the time he was crying really loudly and as much as it pained me, I continued to ignore him.
When we arrived at the hotel, I ate my lunch continuing to ignore him. Then I feasted on my dessert- ice-cream of course. Several hours later once he calmed down I walked next door to the gas station that also housed a Krystal hamburger restaurant so that he could have his lunch although by then it was supper time.
I figured he had learned his lesson but you know how kids will try your patience. Friday at a different store in a different town I had to walk out again without him getting anything. Once again, he had a small container or ice-cream but he also wanted some candy. I informed him that he wasn’t getting both. Then he had the nerve to say, “I’ll do the same thing like I did with my pizza.” Okay, smarty now take that ice-cream back and put it in the freezer. Of course, he started crying and apologizing but I was not going to let him talk back to me and get a reward.
Tuesday I found myself once again at the store with him and once again, I reminded him of the two previous incidences. He finally learned his lesson. We exited the store without any problems and he finally got his ice-cream!
See also:
Stopping Unwanted Behavior By Setting The Alarm