My sister already told me that I'm the meanest mom in the world for doing this. I know it's true, but what do you do??? It works so well.
A few weeks ago Ryan was chasing the girls around the house making them laugh and scream. (a typical pass-time around here) For some reason he decided to kick into robot mode and started moving and talking like a robot. Khursten & Nicole thought it was hilarious and ran around trying to out-maneuver him and find his 'off' button. Audrey didn't think it was very funny at all. She immediately started screaming with a face of sheer panic. The Robot was not okay. He was not funny. "No Robot! Too Scary!"
So being the mean parents we are... we have quickly learned to use this fear to our advantage. Audrey is a horrible listener. She flat out ignores us most of the time. It's terrible I know, But ever since the Robot came to town there's been no more time out, no more counting to 3, no more raising of voices. All we have to say is, "Do I need to call the Robot?" That's all it takes and she'll do whatever we ask.
Am I terrible to use her fear to my advantage? Please tell me you've done stuff like this too! Or do I throw out such a fabulous technique because I'm permanently damaging my child? If there's anything I've learned from watching the movies, in a few years from now our world will be heavily populated by robots. Will Audrey be the only mom on her block who doesn't own a HouseBot 3000 because of some inexplicable and irrational fear of Robots?
9 comments:
I have employed fear as well. My daughter used to be afraid of the vacuum and I used to threaten to vacuum or make her vacuum. That worked until she got a play vacuum of her own. I miss fear as a parenting technique sometimes. :)
I wish I had a robot to use with Nyah! Unfortunately she doesn't listen and is constantly telling me she fears nothing, I'm at a loss as to how to get her to listen and do what she's told. I'd say use whatever you can to get your kids to do what they're told, eventually she'll outgrow the fear and hopefully will still listen.
Okay, you don't know me but Audrey told me about you when she was here in Texas and I figure that since our maiden names are both Roundy and we both have a daughter named Audrey and a friend named Audrey that makes us kindred spirits (have you ever been to a family reunion with about 300 people?) Anyhow, with our children we constantly threaten the 'inchworm' which is my husbands index finger that tickles. They are absolutely terrified of it. I keep wondering what issues will come out of it.....fear of worms? caterpillars? index fingers? Only time will tell...
I don't think you are a horrible parent! I think I may be secretly jealous because we don't have anything so tricky that gets my kids to listen.
And folks, let me tell you, IT TOTALLY WORKS! It is like a light switch for cute little Audrey.
But, when she grows up with this weird hatred for all the robots that are going to take over the world, we'll know why. =)
Sarah you make me laugh, haa, haa. I love it, I think you should totally use it for your advantage, you are the mom and if it makes her listen and do things she is suppose to, what can it hurt. She will out grow it, watch, next week she will LOVE the robot.
I used to be terrified of garbage trucks when I was Audrey's age. (one tipped over in our front yard). I am not afraid of them any more. So, Ithink the robot trauma will wear off.
By the way, that is the cutest picture of Audrey.
I do it too and mine, I fear is going to cause lots of therapy to be needed. I tell the boys when they are beyond bad that I am going to go somewhere and they have to stay home alone. They immediately shape up. They also cry and beg me not to leave, hence the therapy that will come later. My New Year's Resolution should be to stop tormenting my children.
We got threatened with the milk box, and I don't hate milk boxes. I don't know of any adult who would like to take a "time out" once in a while, so they're not afraid of "time out". I say, do what works. You're not abusing your child, so it sounds good to me.
I think you are lucky to have something that will make her listen. Maybe I'll have to try something like that to get mine to listen. Threatening to take presents away at Christmas time doesn't even work for me. They just cry and scream harder.
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