I was just on a much-needed vacation this weekend with some old friends who are running into discipline problems with their two year olds. They asked me what they should do – as a mom of three, they figured I had a few tricks up my sleeve.
As it turns out, I have a simple solution for every single parent who faces a defiant child (so basically anyone who has a 2-year-old!) It’s a parenting book about discipline written by Dr. James Dobson.
Why This is the Best Parenting Book About Discipline Ever Written
This book was recommended to me about 4 years ago by a dear church friend who saw that I was struggling trying to take care of a 4-year-old, a 2-year-old and an infant at the same time. My older two were running me into the ground with their constant “non-listening” ears and outright willful defiance because they knew I was busy with the baby and didn’t have time to address every little thing.
They would fight out of arm’s reach, and they would do the exact opposite of everything I said at just about every turn. I was losing my mind!!
I was going to write a whole long explanation about what makes this book so great, but I think I’ll quote one reviewer when she stated,
I distinctly remember reading the first edition of Dr. James Dobson’s THE STRONG-WILLED CHILD. I was desperate. My first son was not sleeping through the night, was eating nothing but mashed bananas, and was not obeying. The kicker: He would look at me, grin wildly and defiantly dump his entire toy box after I told him, “No.”
Cajoling, negotiating, threatening — nothing worked to get this kid to do something he didn’t want to do. I was taller and stronger and, at least in my mind, smarter, but I became stupid and turned to mush when it came to him. It was a battle of wills, and he was winning.
I admit it. I was one of those mothers who would start out sweet and soft-spoken, telling my son kindly, “No, Sean. No, Sean. No, Sean” — only to switch gears and yell, “SEAN NOOOOO!!!” seconds later. The result: He still blissfully ignored me.
Friends and family began pushing parenting books at me. Thankfully, THE STRONG-WILLED CHILD was one of them. I read and tried to absorb everything. Dobson advocated spanking. Yikes. What would my Baby-Boomer friends think of me? We were spanked and seemed none worse for the experience, but…
Dobson’s arguments favoring discipline, structure and routines made so much sense — especially in light of the chaos I was wreaking, placing such a high premium on reasoning with a 2-foot high toddler, as I was. His style is encouraging. I remember thinking, “I’m doing EVERYTHING wrong, but there’s hope.” But then again, reading “The temperaments of children tend to reflect those of their parents” made me remember my mother’s words (under duress) to me: I hope you have a child just like you.
Does this sound like you? It sure sounded like me 4 years ago! Dr. Dobson’s book revolutionized our household. I went from a grumpy, frazzled mom of three to an in-control mom with well-behaved children in what seemed like 48 hours. Seriously.
If you do what Dr. Dobson says, even if you do the spanking, I guarantee you will only have to actually spank your child once or twice EVER AGAIN. His methods work that well as long as you follow his advice.
How to Get a Copy of The Strong Willed Child
Amazon carries The Strong Willed Child for about $10. It will be the BEST $10 you’ve ever spent. Just do it. You’ll thank me later!
After you grab a copy of this book for yourself, read it and pass it along to a dear friend facing the same issues, and in general just spread the word to every parent you know. They will thank you!!
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