Sometimes our kids hit.  Us.  A sibling.  The dog.

(Or is this just at my house?)

Last night was very sad this way.  Homework was involved.  Everyone ended up crying.

John ended his evening in a long time-out in the bathroom while Mom put her heart back together.

Today, I shared the deep & wide wisdom of Rosemary Slade, O.T.R.  We came up with this plan, and maybe it could help you at your house.

• John and I made an actual paper list of homework items to be done.
• John’s job was to independently mark off each item when completed.
• So when John took a whack at the dog, 5 minutes timeout in the bathroom.  (No Mom words. Just into the time-out bathroom and loop the doorknob such that his little nose sticks out and 1 eye can see.   Good location so Mom can do her stuff while the phone timer runs out within eye-shot of John.)
• Next time the poor dog got a whack, 5+5 minutes.
• Zero tolerance on hitting anything or anyone.
• Make the consequences hit the soft underbelly of all-things-electronic.
• No hitting.  No yelling.  From anyone.

Things went quite well the first night, as we built the habits.

Now I have to be consistent.

Maybe this intervention can help at your home.

Peace be with us,

Gayle