time out

This post is for my beautiful mommy friends who I admire very much, as well as my two fabulous sisters and my loving mother.

Saying "no" to Nadine came organically, when she was under two.
When she became two, I was told by the most informative of parents, to "give her a time out". Seriously, she had no idea what a time out was OR what to do during the time out (back then).
If she did something she shouldn't be doing and I told her "no", a few seconds later, she was onto the next event anyway. ....
So I would say "no", give her a time out and within three seconds ( if that), she was doing something else, having a ball!

At three years old, Nadine started to realize that if she did something unexceptable, and if the first warning didn't stick in her brain, then a time-out would surely follow.

Nearly four now, Nadine now thinks a time-out is a joke. She uses that time to run back and forth laughing, sing songs, pretend, or rub on her blankie. (Yes the blankie). Understand, I don't have a problem with the blankie. She'll outgrow carrying it around sooner than late, and has already started feeling secure in leaving it behind at times.

Three nights ago is when everything changed for me, and Nadine.
It was the evening my nearly four year old said the unthinkable to me.

Close to bedtime, I aided Nadine as she got comfy in her PJ's, brushed her teeth and do the last pee pee on the potty for the night. Usually we head to her room, cuddle up and read a book, talk about the day and she falls off to sleep. That night she asked "mommy can I watch Diego in your bed for a bit"? So into my room we went. She was fine at first, but then she started rolling and jumping off the bed. Twice I said in a stern voice "Nadine, sit on the bed or its back to your room".
After the second request she abruptly stopped jumping, rolled off the bed, and shouted "shut-up,you".

That was the moment, within a instant I thought of the most brilliant punishment.
WITHHOLDING THE BLANKIE. Oh yes, I went there!

Brilliant idea! Seriously I haven't thought of something so genius in a long time.
After she said those horrible words, I looked ay her and at that second I grabbed her blankie, and very firmly said, "Nadine you are to NEVER to say that to me again". I shut the t.v, shut the lights and started to walk into her bedroom. She was screaming " mommy give me my blankie". I turned to her and said " you can have it back in three minutes and when you calm down".

For about two minutes she screamed bloody murder, for the remainder she kept saying she was sorry. Of course after three minutes I explained why no blankie and she replied " I wont say shut- up to you anymore ". Soon after we hugged and it was over.


Since then, there was one no-blankie warning.
Right now, this is working, and I'm glad!

So to all the parents out there who give-up on time-outs, give up reprimands, or if you just simply are reading this because you are looking for the answer..well I have no idea. I learn from all of you! In addition I watch alot of "NANNY 911".