Comments on: The Trouble with Timeouts http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1507 Reading, Writing, Movies and Mothering in Minneapolis, Mostly Fri, 26 Jun 2026 19:21:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1507&cpage=1#comment-12578 girldetective Mon, 07 Jul 2008 03:29:06 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1507#comment-12578 I find that the type 1 and 2 issues tend to occur close together, which tends to mean I'm responding to all things big and small,or ignoring all things big and small. And time is definitely a factor, as is location. It does often seem like war--having to make decisions under fire and in hostile territory. I find that the type 1 and 2 issues tend to occur close together, which tends to mean I’m responding to all things big and small,or ignoring all things big and small. And time is definitely a factor, as is location. It does often seem like war–having to make decisions under fire and in hostile territory.

]]> By: weirleader http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1507&cpage=1#comment-12550 weirleader Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:30:08 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1507#comment-12550 I've informally grouped most discipline issues into two categories: 1) those which are serious (e.g., hitting another child, biting, etc.) and 2) those which are merely insolent, difficult, strong-willed, etc. I still feel like it's reasonable to lose my temper with the type-1 issues - they are the sorts of things I refuse to tolerate even a little. But with the type-2 issues I've noticed that I get the most angry when I have the least time to properly deal with the issue. If I can convince myself to slow down and not let outside pressures drive me (I know, not always easy to do) then I find I can much more calmly administer time-outs, etc. It does seem like kids intuitively pick the worst moments... when we're already late for the movie, when we're late for a date, when we're in the checkout line at the grocery store. I've thought of attempting to be 30 minutes early for all events. That way I'm guaranteed a time cushion to cope with the inevitable meltdown. :-) But that's not often realistic. I’ve informally grouped most discipline issues into two categories: 1) those which are serious (e.g., hitting another child, biting, etc.) and 2) those which are merely insolent, difficult, strong-willed, etc.

I still feel like it’s reasonable to lose my temper with the type-1 issues - they are the sorts of things I refuse to tolerate even a little.

But with the type-2 issues I’ve noticed that I get the most angry when I have the least time to properly deal with the issue. If I can convince myself to slow down and not let outside pressures drive me (I know, not always easy to do) then I find I can much more calmly administer time-outs, etc.

It does seem like kids intuitively pick the worst moments… when we’re already late for the movie, when we’re late for a date, when we’re in the checkout line at the grocery store. I’ve thought of attempting to be 30 minutes early for all events. That way I’m guaranteed a time cushion to cope with the inevitable meltdown. :-) But that’s not often realistic.

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