Oh Lordy!

I had to use my drill sergeant voice today.

Now, normally, I am into the whole pro-active discipline thing.  My kids are
very sensitive and spirited, so I try to minimize disruption, stick to a
schedule, keep things predictable and consistent...use reminders and
re-direction...etc.

But every so often they decide to "game the system" by heel-dragging,
stalling, using obstructionist tactics like arguing, complaining, breaking
pencil leads (to avoid homework), minor temper tantrums over being corrected, etc. etc. at ages seven and eleven, they have to spend more and more time and energy doing things they would rather not do,
and are getting more and more creative about how to try to get out of it.

Winter is also difficult, because of the lack of sunlight here in Minnesota,
which I think affects everyone in our family.  I really notice this sort of
thing being more prevalent in the depths of winter...when nobody around here
wants to do anything.  LOL!  Maybe a sun lamp is in order as well.

Bunny Boy (the seven-year-old), in particular, likes to do things "his way"...which is often OK...but sometimes it's just...wrong.  There are some things that just have to be done one certain "right way"...like for instance, he makes "creative letters"...which are cool looking, but useless if no one can read his assignments.  He likes to play the cello “his way” too...but improper posture, improper bow holds, and improper finger position lead to technical weaknesses later on that are almost impossible to correct...so I try to be a stickler for that, so it becomes natural.

Well, he's been getting worse and worse about bucking me on everything, and
eventually, with two kids ganging up on me and a husband who travels, the
whole positive discipline thing gets really difficult to do consistently and
effectively.

So today, I did the authoritarian thing.  I used my most impressive
"authority voice".  Not shouting...but *projecting*.

My kids are used to hearing this voice in our martial arts class that I help out with..so they don't find it scary...but I try to keep it in reserve so it stays effective.

Bunny Boy snapped to, stopped whining, and got to work.  We
studied his spelling words, got his required reading done, and practiced all
of his cello material before school today.  All he needs to do is 10 minutes
of math practice, and ten minutes of Kung Fu after school, and he has the
rest of the day to play.

He was AMAZED at how much we got done.  When I pointed it out to him, his
eyes got big, and he said "Really?  We did all that?" 

We had gotten into a pattern where it was taking us three or four times
longer than it should to do the few simple things that he is responsible to
do at home...which cut into play time, which made him feel even more
put-upon to do anything at all, which caused me to progressively lower my
standards rather than spend ALL DAY doing what was required...

...bad cycle.  Glad we caught it...hope the improved attitude continues.  I
think it will, because he is going to have HOURS of free time for the first
time in weeks.