Question
My daughter is now 2.5 years and has been fighting me on a few things - potty (if she hasn't gone for a while), Standing still while I dry her hair and put her clothes on, going home from the playground. I've been battling these issues for months. I've tried sending her to the room for a long period of time as was suggested by one of your counsellors here each time she disobeys...but I wonder if that's overkill and too harsh. I've tried short timeout, spanking, removal of all toys and books. They all work for a while and she's as good as gold for a couple of days. And then she's back to fighting me on the same issues. ESPECIALLY if she's tired, hungry, in a bad mood or if I'm not obeying her. For example with changing clothes, she will run away or wriggle, or refuse to cooperate. If I make her cooperate, she will keep on crying in protest, stomp her feet (quite mild in intensity but the crying can go on and on and on). And then once I get everything done, she will not cooperate with anything I tell her to do thereafter from resentment of me making her do what she did not want to do i.e. changing clothes. I am finding myself setting a bad disciplinary precedent by punishing too often, yelling, threatening, scolding, lecturing, spanking too often, punishing. My question for you is, how do I deal with it with this, at this age group? How do I 'reverse' the damage I already caused in our relationship? What expectations do I need to have with obedience in these matters? After all, we are all imperfect in obeying our parents and God. I have read your book 'making the terrible twos terrific' but I really need some practical advice.
