I am always looking for new and exciting ways to discipline my kids.
There was the whole stand in the corner phase which meant I was being punished because I was standing in the corner holding them there.
The very popular “you get an M&M if I catch you being good” phase. That ended when I ran out of M&M’s.
And the hanging the children upside down by their toenails option could possibly be frowned upon by – well – people, so we scratched that before I got my first shot. Would have made a great picture though.
Since I have yet to master any method that the children can not figure out and alter to match what they want quickly, I scour and search for successful alternatives.
The other night I was flipping channels at 2:13 am and hit a rerun of “19 Kids and Counting”. I know it was a rerun because they have, like 21 or something now.
Michelle Duggar was calmly in the kitchen making dinner. No children were screaming, none were begging her to be picked up, and none of them had dirt on their face, wrinkled, unmatched clothes, or were whining uncontrollably for M&M’s. See why we ran out?
It was hard to tell, but she was actually disciplining two of her kids. Hard to tell because they were sitting on a bar stool, looking intently at her, smiles on their face, LISTENING to her punish them. Clearly these were paid actors? That is not how it goes in my house when it is time to correct a behavior. There is a lot of stomping, pouting, and crying.
The kids are never too happy about it either.
But I digress…
So, Michelle, being a stable and sane mother of 19 – I can not imagine – was telling these two little ones that they were not to talk to their siblings the way they had. I don’t know what they said, I missed that, but I bet it was not “You get out of my room or I am going to eat your arm off!”
A proud mother repeats…
So, as their punishment, she had them repeat what they should have said to their sibling ten times. Something like “Child 18, may I please borrow that toy from you?” and the other had to repeat, “Yes, brother”.
Uh huh…
Well – on her kids, it seemed to work. So, in my desperation to be a better mother and have a quieter, less “I want to run screaming from this house to the nearest bar!” moments, I thought I would give it a shot.
Sure enough, first thing in the morning, the girls were in true form. Fighting over a book, or a toy, or personal space, or whatever else they could find. I went in, calmly – ala Duggar Mama Style – and told the girls that they had to repeat the correct things to say.
They did it, and laughed through it, and thought it was fun.
Which is a good thing because I had them repeating things to me so much yesterday that when my hubs got home from work I said,”Hi Honey, how was your day?” ten times.
I don’t know if it will work with my kids. I have a lot of bad habits to break, a lot of knee jerk reactions to ignore, and a lot of patience to buy on Amazon and have delivered overnight. But I am willing to give it a try.
So thank you Michelle Duggar. I appreciate the idea.
I think…
Originally Published Feb 23, 2011
It always amazes me how she keeps those kids under such controll and NEVER raises her voice.
I KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She has a special talent, I will say!
I’ve been looking for some discipline tips! So, I just might give this a whirl…if it works for them, then surely it will work for us :-)
Sure it will!!!! Just like it will work for my crew…. stop laughing! It might! ;D
I’ve never watched the show, but I’ll admit, your post had me laughing so hard I almost peed… Does she offer advise on incontinence??? Bwahahahaha
After all of those kids, I’m sure she probably could help with that, too. I’ve only had one set of twins, and still, every sneeze still makes me nervous.
HAHAHA!!! I am so glad!! I love to make people laugh!
She should do a special on incontinence! Surely after that many kids, Depends get a whole closet in their house!
Great post. Wouldn’t it be great if disciplining your children was as easy as Michelle Duggar makes it look? Developing a style of discipline is all about education and trial and error. It’s important that a parent feels comfortable with his or her own discipline strategy in addition to making sure it’s positively affecting the kids.
I could not agree with you more! But you have to be creative and stern… more things I need to order from Amazon! ;D
Thank you for reading! I love your blog!
She is quite remarkable. When I feel remarkable patient, modeling works nicely. Unfortunately, I don’t always have her patience.
Sometimes, I’ll walk in to the middle of some sort of boy created chaos, and can’t sort it all out. I just say, “20 pushups, now.” By the time they are done, they’ve burned off the mad part, gotten some good joint compression, which relieves stress, and when they are finished, they can either talk about it, or move on. Jumping jacks and sit ups work, too.
OOOH – punishment by exercise… I LIKE that!! Thank you! ;)
Now you just need to get me some tips on teens because my daughter is about to drive me insane….literally!
Hmmm…. send her on a mission trip?? !! ;D
I just wanted to say I LOVE your parenting humor! We all share in your struggles & I enjoy your humorous spin on things!
WOW! Thank you Alison!! I am so glad I can make people laugh!! And I sincerely appreciate your reading and responding!
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Sorry! I didn’t realize I had switched my screens back!
oops. it changed screens & I didn’t realize it!
No problem! DO NOT want you to miss the points! ;D
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Hmm, might have to give this one a try sometime. Sounds way less stressful than the route I usually take, lol.
http://vandylandmommy.blogspot.com
LOL!!! Surely if she can do it, we can, right?!? ;)
Omgosh I love this! And I love me some Duggar family but seriously I feel very unfit after watching them. I have two and they drive me crazy. That being said when I’ve had to watch 3 other near aged children before along with mine, things went smoother. Blame it on mob mentality I have no idea. :)
LOL!! SO the lesson here is to keep having kids until there is so many, no one has time to be unhappy?!?! HAHAHA!!
I do think they have magical powers though… they really have it together!
You totally crack me up!! Hahaha! I love this! I am going to give it a try. Wish me luck?
GOOD LUCK!!! We’ll meet up weekly for our “Emulating Michelle Duggar” meeting! HAHA!
I love it! Not so sure my kids will but I’d guess it will work.
Hey – you never know til ya try! LOL
Your post made me laugh! I do admire her parenting skills. I can never understand why so many people hate her.
Who does not like her???? Everyone I know thinks she is great!
Oh and I am following you now! If only I can discover how to put my code up in my new thesis theme :)
I will get you back lady! Thank you!
I came by from the blog hop and followed you on google. I was really pleased to find your site. I loved the article! But, yea right! Not with my kids!
You never know Diane!! I am headed to follow you back!
something that we have implemented at our house is asking the kids to think of solutions or ways to do better next time. Like, you got really upset and screamed, what can you do to not to that next time? it makes them feel less confronted and defensive and it also has them be PART OF the solution…
That is a GREAT idea! Thanks!
Ha! I have a 3year old, a 12 year old, and a 17 year old and some days, it seems I am in discipline mode from the time I wake until the time I lay down. All for totally different, age appropriate things. I have considered driving out into the middle of nowhere and discretely pushing them out of the car . . . but that might be illegal. Ahhhh!
I am your newest follower via the Humpday Hop. I hope to see you at my blog Dropped Stitches.
bahaha that’s too funny. Mine are 2mths, 2 yrs, 4 yrs and 13 years and I feel the same way about driving to the middle of nowhere. Except I don’ t push them out of the car. Instead they are torturing hubby while I’m busy getting lost and debate whether or not I should return to relieve him lol
LOL!!! I think we all driven home very slowly after getting to get out!!
That show is addicting – and hey even if they laughed it still distracted them from the bad stuff they were doing, right?
That is so true!!!
I have been catching up on blogs tonight and it was so refreshing to read something that wasn’t a review, a coupon or a giveaway. (although I do love those) It was just really nice to read something real.
Good luck on the “Michelle” way. We have watched it a few times and I am always amazed at their home. Thank you for sharing.
Your welcome and thank you for reading!! ;)
Sounds good – I might give this a go, too. Also, I will be ordering some of that patience from Amazon – should have known that’s where I’d find it.
Let us know how it works out for you!
LOL!! Thanks Becky! Maybe our orders will arrive at the same time!
As usual you have me cracking up!
I wonder about the Duggar family though there were 6 of us growing up in my family and I know chaos when I see it. I think they hang the children by their toe nails when the cameras are off and they are so happy to be free that they all behave really well while the cameras are on….I am kidding I love me some Duggars!
HAHAHAHA!! Now That makes total sense!! I know they have to have days that just fall totally apart!!
OH MY GOODNESS Lori! We love the Duggars. We watch them every week. We saw that same episode resently. I have been using that on my daughter the last 2 weeks. We are battling over saying “thank you”. When she didnt say thank you to someone last week I made her say thank you 10 times just like on the show. haha It was funny but it worked. We have done it a couple times since then. I always learn something from that show. :) haha I need help so I’ll take it!
I love it too though I have not seen it in a while. Good thing for late night reruns! I don’t know if it is working yet, but I am trying it every day!
Blog hopping today and am your newest follower. I hope that 1 of my blogs interests you too.
http://tawnasplan.blogspot.com
http://btrbb.blogspot.com
http://tawnassecret.blogspot.com
I also do a weekend blog hop, you can link up on tawnasplan.blogspot.com open every Friday-Sunday!
Thanks
Tawna
I got you back Tawna! You look GREAT!
OMG! I MUST strongly consider watching this show! Calm when she’s disciplining the kids?? Has she written a book? I love the technique in your post. I am SO trying that!!!
Hi Angela! Actually YES she has! Go to my sidebar on underneath the post and look for the Duggars book. The link gives you 12% off!
She is amazing! And I do wish I could channel her parenting style more often!
This is so funny…I watched that episode last week and have been doing it with my kids, and it actually works! I don’t know how she does it…I’m insane with only 4, but she has some wisdom to offer!
I agree! I have no idea how she does it. I have 3 insane, crazy, gals… I have no idea how she is so together!
I have used the technique and it’s worked for us!! I just posted about a similar technique on my blog today. Love your blog!
Oh I’ll have to go read it! Thank you!!
seriously the woman is amazing.
I have joked that I want whatever she is on- because clearly it is good.
but aside from that how are kids all clean at the same time?? I can’t get four to be clean let alone healthy at the same time
THANK YOU!!! I can not even keep ME clean!! LOL
I love 19 kids and counting, she has to be the most sane or insane person for having so many little ones and they all seem soooo very disciplined all of the time!!!!
I hope you will check out my site and blog, its geared towards saving families money :-) I have linked to your blog
http://www.wheredokidseatfree.net
I have your site Bookmarked! I love it! Thank you!
I’m pretty sure they’re not real children. No way. ;) Hey, at least your kids had fun with it and no screaming was involved. That’s always a plus. I’m not at that stage yet, but I will think about that when I am. Thanks!
LOL!! fake kids! That explains everything!!
I just stumbled you. What a great post. I can relate so well. I have a 3 1/2 year old a 17 month old. I think I will have to subscribe. I could use a little affirmation and humor.
Faith at homeecathome.com
Aww thank you – I would love to have you!!! I’ll be popping by your site too!!
Sometimes I think the Duggars are actually aliens. But I’m going to have to try that. 1-2-3 Magic worked for a while at our house, but then one day I forgot and now we’re backing to the old cycle of no one listening until I yell.
The Duggars also promote “Blanket Training” as a form of discipline. Basically, a baby is placed on a blanket. If the child moves off the blanket, the child is then swatted. Usually with a wooden spoon or whatever apparatus the parent has. This usually repeats until the child remains on the blanket without moving. Pretty abusive huh? So much for those “Christian” values.
Are you serious??? I have never heard that ever!!! Wow how incredibly sad!
Typos Courtesy of my iPhone
That is not how they discribe their blanket training. You correct them by saying no if they make a loud noice or get off the blanket and put them back on but you don’t spank them for it. They also get a special toy to play with only while during blanket time. So they learn that it is a fun and enjoyable place to be. You start out with about 5 minutes and then get longer as they learn to have self control and play quietly on the blanket.
OH good!! Phew!!! I just did not see them having that personality at all with their kids! Thank you for clarifying!