Discipline war part 2

So.... my sister came back from work last night and sat down to discuss the issues at hand.

I think we had already decided on time out/naughty chair as an impartial way of refereeing the kids when they play together, and we were merely waiting for MH to sit down with us all and agree on it.

After yesterday afternoon, Geok told us that it was almost impossible that he would be able to do that ( ? Pride/ego ) --what a child! So... he basically left it to her to thrash it out with us ( which was what I anticipated ANYWAY! ) So... we decided that the kids would be given time-outs if they attacked the other kid, bit/shoved/clobbered the other child. 1 minute per year of age, they had to sit there the entire time and then apologise when it was over. They would then get a hug and it would end the timeout.

THE CAVEAT??!! MH expects to be CONSULTED when Elizabeth was the one getting the timeout! How ridiculous is that? Especially since he refuses to partake in the discussion relating to it! Why should we CONSULT him if he did not witness the event?

Anyway, I don't trust his ability to administer the timeout appropriately. My solution? I will keep my kids away from his. Until he goes back to work properly. Right now he is in a temporary rotation away from his usual orthopaedic training so he spends inordinate amounts of time AT NOVENA.

It was great having an adult conversation with Geok though. She's a more temperate person, and seems quite even minded when it comes to these issues.

It's a pity that things had to deteroriate to this level, but if MH had the simple courtesy and frame of mind to be respectful when dealing with people other than himself it wouldn't have happened at all! I did what had to be done and I really don't care if I seem like the nasty one.

Anyhow, Madison starts school tomorrow so things will be different. Hopefully our new apartment will be ready to move into SOON. It would be nice to have more space for the kids and for US!