Punishment

Bridging position
Since end of last year, the kids recieved a different form of punishment.

Old Punishment

When they do something wrong, they will be asked to face the wall to think for about 5 mintes what they had done. Then they will be subjected to a short lecture from either the hubby or myself (They are usually more afraid of hubby). After the lecture, they will be asked how they should be punished. For my hubby, he usually takes away some privileges like watching television or banning them from playing with their favorite toys for a period of time. For me, they have to tell me if their 'crime' warrants caning. Of course, ultimately it is still my call to cane or not. If they need to be caned, they will have to decide which part, hand (left or right) or backside. More often than not, they will be crying and asking for forgiveness even before I execute the caning. After which an apology is expected and then a hug.

New punishment

The hubby wants to 'Spare the rod'. He taught the Duo bridging position, half-squats, leg- raise, push-ups and star jump. He employs up to 2 of these positions when they do something wrong, like fighting with each other, snatching toys, not paying attention, being rude or not behaving oneself when going out.

Kyle hated the leg-raise position most and would cry after less than 5 minutes. His favorite is bridging position as it is very easy to 'cheat' with his backside jutting out to reduce the weight on his arms.

For Meryl, we usually ask her to do half-squats or leg-raise and sometimes bridging. She thinks its fun....most of the time, as she seldom gets punished.

This method is usually accompanied by taking away some privileges as well. However, it works better for the hubby than me. I would have stuck to the good 'ol cane if not for the fact that both our canes had been broken into half.

Time to get a new cane...just in case!!

Lovey dovey Meryl

Kids slept with us last night (Friday). It is aways something they both look forward to when the weekend arrives. Meryl will sleep on the bed with me and Kyle on the platform with his dad. Last night after reading them a book, they got ready for bed. Both of them fought to sleep on the floor with their dad so I pretended to be upset and started crying. As usual Meryl responded 1st and offered to sleep with me. She even suggested that I sleep inside so that I won't 'fall off the bed' (actually she's the one that will fall off on top of her brother!)

Early in the morning, I felt her moving and then a hand trying to grab mine. Then the hand stretched across and pat me on my chest/shoulder. Noticing that I have also woken up, she whispered, 'Mommy you are more important. More important than my bicycle, more important than my hamster. Mommy, I love you.' Then she continued patting me, trying to put me back to sleep. After a while, she rained little kisses all over my face, on my cheeks, on my lips and even my hand ( just like what I often do with her!) and all the time telling me that 'I am more important.' Ain't it sweet?

Domesticating Meryl

At the start of year 2009, I did up a 'Task List' for both kids. It is a system whereby they can earn ticks for the chores they do and there are rewards for per day, per week and per month, depending on the number of ticks they accumulate. Some of the tasks includes folding blankets, finishing their meals on time, washing their own dishes, showering by themselves, changing into their own clothes, packing their bags..so on and so forth. The list has 25 items on it and they can earn a sweet/ice-cream/lollipop depending on how many ticks they get in a day. They also get to choose a movie or buy a toy below $10 if they hit a certain no of ticks per week.

Kyle was enthusiastic about it initially but he was always in a hurry to do his own things and needs to be reminded. Meryl, on the other hand, was able to follow through what she was tasked to do, like washing her own dish after each meal.

One morning, after breakfast, which she took a long time, she took her plate to the sink as I was trying to hurry her to get showered to go out. She insisted that she needed to wash her plate. So I stood by the side to supervise her. After she finished, I asked her to get down from the stool but she refused. She told me that she needed to wash her kor kor's plate as well. So I waited again. Kyle as usual had disappeared to do his 'fun' things already, plate forgotten! Needless to say, she gets more rewards than her brother. However, she refused the sweets cos she was punished by daddy and cannot have sweets for a month despite me telling her that she can ea the sweets that she earn under this system!

Kyle's 1st drum lesson

He was very excited about his drum lesson. After all, it was the one thing that he had requested for since he was 3. We were down at Cristofori at about 7.20 and took a peep at the class. Lo and behold!! Danny (Kyle's swim mate) was there! This make him even more excited as now he has a 'kaki'! He went in at 7.30 and I could see that he was thrilled.

After his lesson, I went in and asked teacher what they had done for the evening. Kyle named me all the cymbals and demonstrated to me the 2 and 4-beat pattern. He was all smiles when he walked out fof the studio.

What is more important?

One evening, Kyle was fighting with me over the television. He wanted to watch a show on TV after he returned back from schoolbut I said no as he neeed to eat his lunch and take a nap. He refused to comply and made a big fuss and even tried to threaten me. He said that if i do not let him watch, I must buy him a set of Bakugan. Of course I refused and told him that he has no right to tell me what to do. It took him a while, after much screaming (on my part) and with the help of the cane that he finally went into the kitchen, pulling a long and angry face. He also claimed that he doesn't like me and is angry with me.

I was very upset with him by now and threw him this question. "What is more important? Is TV more important or is mummy's feelings more important?'He replied under his breath the former. At this time, Meryl who was already seated at the table and halfway through her macaroni exclaimed loudly," Mummy, you are more important!! You are the most important!" Then she promptly extended her arms and brought my face next to hers and kissed me. The brother was still sulking away...sigh...