Wendy’s back behind the microphone, so no shenanigans this week. Click here to download.
In this episode we talk about:
- The difficulties the girls had while Wendy was away
- The difference between discipline and punishment
- Can you spank foster kids?
- The difficulties we have making the girls sit through a time-out
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Michelle said,
September 30, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
Hey–great episode, gang! My husband is reading a book about the “love and logic” means of discipline, and it makes the most sense to me. IOW, finding a productive way to not only discipline children, but to help them understand the consequences of their behaviour and teaching them that they have a responsibility to right the wrongs they have caused (e.g. the example you gave of one of the girls throwing blocks during tantrums, and then having to pick up the blocks that she threw to clean up the mess that she caused).
I am going to have to re-listen to the segment in this episode about “time outs” because that is a type of discipline that sounds like it could be very difficult to implement. It’s hard keeping kids still even when they’re _well_ behaved! lol!!!
Best wishes and thanks again. You are both very generous to be sharing your experiences with known and unknown listeners.
m
Jon Kenoyer said,
October 1, 2007 @ 8:03 am
Hey guys, great podcast, this episode was the best yet, and my wife and I loved hearing stuff to get us prepared for our own upcoming experience.
Also, it was a trip seeing my quickly thrown together site under the friends links. I’ve gotten positive feedback on my site even though no one has actually done a poll, created an account to comment/rate/add links etc (hint hint
)
Anyway keep up the good work!
susanmarie said,
October 1, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
Wow, the discipline sounds challenging, but it does sound like you are doing a great job. The “inner calmness” that was mentioned in that email speaks volumes.
Claudia said,
October 2, 2007 @ 6:18 am
Hey! Been listening to your podcast lately and it’s fun to listen to your experiences … we started foster parenting 11 years ago this week and eventually could not foster any more because we had too many kids. We have adopted 10 children and have 2 more coming in a few weeks. All but two of them were adopted out of foster care.
When I was listening to this podcast, I wondered if you know if there was any alcohol exposure in the womb for either of the girls. If so, you may need a completely different discipline strategy. We attempted love and logic parenting with our son who arrived at the age of 8. He has Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder but we did not know it at the time. We spent many years in frustration becuase he never did respond.
He’s 18 now and in jail today for stealing our car and joy riding it all over the state. His behaviors have never really improved after all our years of consequencing.
Hope this doesn’t seem offensive, but it may be worth looking into.
I am really enjoying your podcast!
Claudia said,
October 2, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
W,
First, you can sit at the feet of my blog and learn whatever there is to learn. And you definitely should check out the FASD possibility. Some people have estimated that 95% of kids in foster care were most likely exposed to alcohol in the womb. I have a great friend who has a blog about FAS at http://www.thoughtspreserved.blogspot.com who is definitely worth reading. She’s an expert.
Second, yeah, 12 kids. But only 7 (9 in a few weeks) are living at home. So it’s not quite as bad as it seems.
Third, it’s been a long painful nightmare, but we’re getting used to it, sad to say.
Fifth, I listen to your little podcast while I’m on the treadmill at the YMCA which has been an annoying experience (the Y, not your podcast). I enjoy reminiscing about the early days and learning from you as well.
Claudia