Time Out Mat

So I have to begin this post by stating that while I took this picture Lily was not in trouble and was not supposed to be sitting. I had her pose while she was being good so that I didn't have to take a picture of her while in trouble...but she is darn cute while she's sitting there hanging her head but picture taking during it is inappropriate, darn.

Ok...so first, this mat is heart shaped :) kinda ironic huh? Second, we started using this on Monday when we returned from our trip to MD. The main reason for this...she's testing us! Throwing toys when we tell her not to, see that I said "told" not "asked", she's very smart...I even had to start using the phrase, "Obey Mommy and Daddy" I know controversial but I believe there's a big difference between listening and doing, or obeying. Plus, in a year or so I can just hear her say to me...I did hear you! Ha..that's not what I need.

But the mat is working!! When she does something we don't approve of, we say "Lily, No. You don't throw food/toys/whatever. If you do it again, you're going to go sit on your mat all by yourself. Do you understand?" She'll nod her head yes and mostly won't do it again. But then there's always that time that she wants to test us and she does it again. And we make her march down that hall to sit on her mat. She'll walk there herself and sit. She'll look at us and smile and we'll tell her why she's there and that's when she hangs her head.

So, so far so good. I'm extremely proud of Lily for doing this and I'm extremely proud of Mike and I for being consistent and following through. Man, it's so hard to punish a little girl who just looks at you and smiles. It breaks our hearts, but we're hoping this will make the years to come that much easier.