... that it could work for my DS. I bought it after being recommended it on MN when I was struggling with DSs behaviour, but I can't recognise my DS in the scenarios at all and am really sceptical about how to apply it, or whether I should pick and choose a few bits and try them, and if so, which ones. My DS is 3.
It seems like I'm reading about kids who easily get discouraged or worry about what their Mum thinks/feels. It also seems like it's talking about kids who don't usually tell you all about how they feel, and what's going on for them. DS never, ever, ever shuts up and tells us every single thought that crosses his mind. (DH saw what I was reading and inquired if there's another book called 'How to get your kids will shut the fuck up for five seconds so you can get an occasional word in edgewise')
EG yesterday - Scenario - I'm running a fever with swine flu, have been stuck inside in tiny flat with DS all day, he's been IM-POSS-IB-LE and his latest trick is to take a 2 litre bottle of water out of the fridge, take it into the living room and pour the whole bottle on the floor, while I was in the bathroom cleaning up wee from where he peed all over the towels on the rail.
'DS you poured water all over the floor on purpose didn't you?'
'Sorry Mum'
'Please could you clean it up for me?'
'No, because I'm playing with my fire engine, I'm too busy'
'DS please, help me out here.'
'Mum, are you sad?'
'Yes, I am a bit, I've got a lot on this evening, and now there's water all over the floor and I'd really like you to clean it up. And you're not sorry you did it, are you?'
'I said 'sorry''
'Did you mean it?'
'No not really, I'm happy playing with my fire engine. Would you like a kiss Mum?'
'No, I want you to clean up the water!'
'Mum, don't worry. Just clean it up now and then make my dinner.'
So tell me. Is this really the right book for me? And if so, how???
PS the scenario above did not end in violence, and for that I congratulate myself. Some days my highest achievement is not strangling him...