Mads goes to timeout!

Today was Madilyn's first "time out". In our house we have three different spots we tend to use. In public I call it the naughty wall and they have to grab a seat against the wall. Mady has been more curious about why the girls are in time out and she will try to sit with them and even comfort them if they are crying. Well today was her first visit to the naughty wall. She has been discovering that she can not only fight back but pick a fight too. Little stinker!

Mady's new favorite feisty activities (in no particular order):

Hitting with objects

Spitting at you

Spitting in general

Biting

Pulling hair

Snatching toys from others

Throwing toys

I am sure there are probably more if I watched her for another two minutes...yep, pinching and slapping. She just did both, to me, while I was typing this. She now knows that these behaviors are BAD and she knows she shouldn't be doing them. She will even get an evil grin when doing them (I knew there was a reason we call her Mads). So today when she hauled off and bashed a toy into Layla's head. I gave Layla the attention first and then escorted Mady right to the naughty spot. Her little face was in SHOCK.

Disbelief...

I AM IN TIME OUT!!!???

Then she just started to wail and huge tears came down her little cheeks. She sat for a moment and then she got up and came to see what I was doing with Layla. I had to take her back about three times but she finally stayed. Layla said to me, "Mom are you going to have a talk with her about acceptable behavior?" I reassured her that I would.

My girls favorite part about their sisters going into time out is that they are told to say they are sorry and they have to apologize, NICELY, and give them a hug. I usually have them repeat a phrase about how we SHOULD behave, such as..." I am sorry I did____ to you. I am sorry and I know better. I am your big/little sister and I WILL BE nice and ...well you get the idea.

Mady's vocabulary is not quiet there yet but Layla was ready for her apology. I spoke to Mady and she just had a huge sad frown on her face. When I said to her "you can't hit because it hurts", she started to bawl again. Through the tears, she gave Layla a big hug and smooch and then, Layla took a tissue and helped wipe her face, then took her hand and walked her into the kitchen to have a snack with her. Soon Mady was smiling again. I think she learned a big lesson today. I can't believe I have to start time out with MY BABY! They grow up too darn fast.