We’ve had a roller-coaster history with timeout.
During Hadley’s obstinate stage (ages 18 months-4 years) it was her second home. What a lovely dwelling that corner by the laundry room has become since we added Fat Kitty’s kitty littler box to the mix four years ago.
Talk about the ultimate punishment.
Since Bode is Mr. “Do What Is Right,” he didn’t have any marathon sessions in timeout but on the rare occasion he landed in the Corner of Shame, he was so broken about disobeying us that he would just sob. Have you ever tried to discipline a sensitive kid? Trust me, you come out feeling like you’re the bad guy.
We really haven’t used timeout as punishment in a really long while because, for the most part, both kids are pretty well-behaved and there are certainly more effective ways of disciplining them as they grow older.
The other day, Hadley did something mean to Bode and instinctively, I ordered her to timeout. You know, for old time’s sake.
Timeout?” she scoffed. “Aren’t I a little bit old for timeout?”
“You’re right, you just lost technology time.”
“I take it back. Timeout sounds just fine.”
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 