Child Training 101

Had to show a stubborn look to go with my story!

So, Josie has been a bit of a pistol this week. I decided I better step up my child training before it goes any further :) I have really been trying to be extra consistent with her, and loved this excerpt from a book I read a while back and have revisited, which talks about the importance of Eph. 4:22-24 (the putting off and putting on stuff). I haven't been taking the time to train her with the "putting on" part of the verse lately, it seems, so I cracked down this week.

"When we correct our children for the wrong behavior but fail to train them in righteous behavior, we will exasperate them because we are not providing them with a way of escape. This sort of neglect will provoke them to anger. There will never be a situation where this does not apply. As a rule, anytime you correct your child for wrong behavior, have her walk through the right behavior. This is how we train our children to walk in the righteousness of Christ. This is what the Bible means when it says to 'train them in righteousness'." (from "Don't Make Me Count to Three", by Ginger Plowman).
Long background story...my apologies. Anyway, tonight Josie was laying on the dog's head again, and Cooper gave just a little warning growl. I told Josie to please get off Cooper's head, and she did, but did so with a very loud and exasperated sigh and pouty attitude. We had already had some consequences for this very thing. We went into her room and I asked if she obeyed with a joyful heart (she said no) and I asked her how she should have answered me (she said, "Yes, mommy"). She had a consequence, we hugged, prayed, loved on each other, and came back out. I totally forgot to have her practice the right behavior, and had moved on to something else when I heard, "You forgot to have me say it the right way, mommy! I will lay on Cooper's head again, and you say 'Please get off Cooper's head, Josie. Then I will say, Yes mommy'." Praise the Lord that something is getting through to her. I'm sure tomorrow will prove me wrong :)