The other day Briggs was not having a good day. There was a lot of sassiness and defiance. A lot of poor listening. A lot of unkindness shown towards his sisters. And in response, a lot of consequences for poor behavior. Towards the end of the day, the kids were playing together while I was making dinner. I overheard Staley and Adelie role playing with Briggs a variety of different scenarios. Like "When Mom asks you to clean up your toys, what should you do?" Or "If you want to play with something that Adelie is playing with, what could you say?" Briggs seemed to be a very willing participant in this activity. When I asked the girls what they were doing, they told me, "We are giving Briggs good boy lessons." Then Staley showed me the list of "good boy rules" she had made, including things like "be kind", "do as your told", "take turns", and "use kind words."
It seems like a good place to start.
I know that childhood phases come and go. I know that emotional regulation will continue to improve as Briggs grows and matures. I understand that boundaries will be tested and that behavior modification is a continuous work in progress. I know that, even without lessons, Briggs is a good boy with a sweet heart. And I know that we will work through these behaviors and come out better on the other side.
I just hope it is really soon!
