I wish Super Nanny was here to tell me what to do sometimes. Bennett is most definitely embracing the art of saying "NO! I DON'T WANT TO!" and he does so to almost everything. This evening, we had our first big struggle in a long time. It was about taking a bath. He is always so grimy after daycare and I just couldn't imagine him not taking a bath before bedtime. He refused. He kicked and screamed and pushed and shoved and screamed some more. I tried to use every approach used in all the books:
- The MAKE HIM FEEL HEARD Approach:
"Bennett, so what I hear you saying is you don't want to take a bath."
- The MIRROR HIS EMOTIONS Approach:
"Wahhhhhhh! You don't want to take a bath! You don't! You're mad! Waaaahhhhhh!"
- The BRIBERY Approach:
"I'll read you extra book at bedtime! I'll add extra bubbles to the bath!"
- The GUILT TRIP Appoach (I know. I feel awful. I was getting desperate)
"Look, your rubber ducky is in the tub all by himself. He's sad."
- The MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY Approach
"Bennett - get in that tub or ELSE!"
Finally, having exhausted all of the above options and feeling right on the edge of it all - I went with the IF YOU CAN'T BEAT EM, JOIN EM Approach. I got in the bath myself and took him with me - kicking and screaming and oh, by the way, still with his shirt on - and cleaned him up in the shower in one minute.
I am not proud of myself. There was probably a "right" way to handle this and I sure hope I didn't scar him and turn him into someone who will hate baths for the rest of his life. But at least he is asleep now, and he smells good. Now give me a drink.
- The MAKE HIM FEEL HEARD Approach:
"Bennett, so what I hear you saying is you don't want to take a bath."
- The MIRROR HIS EMOTIONS Approach:
"Wahhhhhhh! You don't want to take a bath! You don't! You're mad! Waaaahhhhhh!"
- The BRIBERY Approach:
"I'll read you extra book at bedtime! I'll add extra bubbles to the bath!"
- The GUILT TRIP Appoach (I know. I feel awful. I was getting desperate)
"Look, your rubber ducky is in the tub all by himself. He's sad."
- The MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY Approach
"Bennett - get in that tub or ELSE!"
Finally, having exhausted all of the above options and feeling right on the edge of it all - I went with the IF YOU CAN'T BEAT EM, JOIN EM Approach. I got in the bath myself and took him with me - kicking and screaming and oh, by the way, still with his shirt on - and cleaned him up in the shower in one minute.
I am not proud of myself. There was probably a "right" way to handle this and I sure hope I didn't scar him and turn him into someone who will hate baths for the rest of his life. But at least he is asleep now, and he smells good. Now give me a drink.
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