ds1 8 just pushed me to my limits - i have shouted really loud and got upset

[cba]

ds1 has finally pushed me to my limit. I am now really upset. He is very silly most of the time and pushes his luck constantly.

I am always very calm and consistent. But I have finally lost it. dh had stern words with him this afternoon.

He is generally disrespectful and just laughs when we try and talk to him.

Anyway, he was upstairs playing with ds2 and he came down and said "i have just broken all of ds2 toys" and started laughing.

At this I started shouting really loudly. When he saw I was really upset and had enough of him, he admitted he hadnt really.

So, he had said this to get a reaction from me.

He is now in his bedroom.

Have you been in this position? What do you do to enforce discipline, I feel I have been to calm and havent had any effect in discipline at all.

This is normal for the age group, if annoying.

I use Thomas Phelan's 1-2-3 Magic, and it works quite well most of the time. It took us about 3 days to implement it initially. I think sending them to their room is a good strategy, as it avoids confrontation and lets everyone calm down a bit. It's a bit more sophisticated than the naughty step.

I sent DS2 (very nearly 8) to his room this morning for being disrespectful, btw. He has been a lot better this afternoon.

Best of luck.

Keep calm if you can.

Use a deep voice slightly louder than your normal voice.

Keep eye contact.

Keep to your guns.

If he laughs at you send him to the calming down chair/step explaining you will not talk to him until he is calm and ready to listne properly.

If he goes away from the calm spot take him back giving no attention.

When he is ready explain to him what was inappropreate ie when he is calm ect.

Send him to the calming down chair/step for physical behaviour or something you deem as realy bad.

Praise him when he is being good.

Dont give up