Punishment

As I was getting my son dressed after his bath tonight, he kept kicking wildly, as he often does during clothes and diaper changes. I gave him a stern warning stop. KICK KICK KICK. I warned him that if he continues to kick, he will go to straight to bed without storytime. KICK KICK KICK.

I finished getting him dressed, then took him to the bathroom to brush his teeth, all the while reminding him that he is going to bed without storytime.

I placed him in his crib without all our usual bedtime routines. No books. No saying goodnight to Mr. Penguin (nightlight) and Dolly (stuffed sheep). No checking the body parts to make sure they're there before bed, no last guffaw, no "night-night".

As I closed the door behind me and headed downstairs, I expected to hear him scream and kick his crib. I expected at least a half hour of pained crying. But did any of that happen? No. So as "punishment" my son just went straight to sleep.

This kid will never understand consequences.