Quote:
|
Originally Posted by JeannineW
Could the consequence be privilege related? Maybe if the kids watch TV while you prepare dinner. Have him miss the show and help you cook or at least be in the room with you while they watch. Maybe he could help you fold laundry to make up for being mean to you. You need to make it very clear to him why he is being punished.
|
Not a parent here, but I would say to be careful using common household duties as punishments. My mother used dishes, laundry, vacuuming, making dinner, etc. as punishments for me. Then when she would ask for my help in a non-punishment setting or try to teach me things, I always felt that I had done something wrong and would stress out wondering what it was and why she wasn't telling me. My stepmother did it even worse the one year in high school that I lived with her/Dad. To this day, when someone asks me to help with a household duty (as opposed to when I see that it needs to be done and do it on my own), I still get that nagging feeling in my head that I've done something wrong, even when I know, rationally, that I haven't. I have several friends over the years that were given chores-as-punishment only, and these are the people whose houses are apalling to be in. (I make up for it some in a neat streak inherited from my grandmother. She has endless boxes of useless stuff, but they're neatly arranged. :P )
Extra chores as punishment? Sure. Also, it might depend on the amount they were expected to do around the house before they arrived with you. If it was little or none, get them used to household duties as something you need to do to take care of yourself rather than just punishment. (Not saying the OP or any other repliers don't.)
Again, this is my perspective as someone who experienced it, not someone who is/was in a position to enforce it. Little things do affect you well into adulthood.