| Everyone is consistent in something. It might be a | | | | through'....getting up after telling them to do something |
| positive consistency or negative consistency, but we all | | | | and they don't obey. |
| know how to be consistent. When we think of things | | | | In the consistency lies the answer. You're wondering |
| that we call 'hard to do', we find that our positive | | | | why your child isn't listening to your loud angry voice |
| consistency is pretty well shot. So what about that | | | | pitch or arm waving? Have you been ignoring the right |
| negative consistency? How about that declaration to | | | | direction because you are consistently just 'wanting' a |
| get involved in exercise? Or the diet that you're going | | | | change but doing nothing about 'changing'? In our home, |
| to start after you polish off the chocolates from | | | | I used to give what I called, 'the snake eyes'...an evil |
| Valentine's Day? And nothing changes, as you are | | | | brow-furrowed glare. What did my young son take |
| negatively consistent. | | | | away from this? He's great at the 'the snake eyes'.. |
| Think of telling your child the first time to put down the | | | | evil brow-furrowed glare. |
| toy and come inside for dinner. How many times after | | | | You might be saying, "But I really want To change!" |
| that until your child really believes you and comes to | | | | You'll find that just wanting is not comparable to doing. |
| the table? You are consistent in either a positive or a | | | | Make a point of only telling your child one time what |
| negative way. The 'negatively consistent way' is still | | | | you expect, and then follow through on the |
| calling them to the table, but louder and angrier. Your | | | | consistency after they've used up the time you've |
| children are consistently conditioned to respond to your | | | | given them to respond. Children learn what they live. |
| anger and loud voice. The 'positive consistent | | | | Give the example first. |
| response' to your child not obeying would be to call | | | | Get up and claim your position again as the parent. It |
| once, then get up and follow through with enforcing | | | | will take time before they believe 'the new response' |
| your telling them to come to the table. I found the | | | | that you're giving them. In the consistency lies the |
| hardest thing as a young parent was the 'follow | | | | answer. |