Time Outs - A New Twist

Lately, Rosie's preferred communication method has been swatting, slapping, flicking or hitting anyone in her general vicinity. Her rapidly developing vocabulary has stalled in favor of her tiny mighty fists of fury. Evidently, her emotions are finding her hands faster than her words. Occupational hazard of being two. This latest surge in violence has coincided with the introduction of Rosie's first time-out. But time-outs with new twist.

Let me set the scene; low blood sugar, fatigue or two-year-old nature cause tensions to mount. Every need unmet increases tension, until little fists of fury unleash on the world, but let's be honest, usually on Harp. I gave her warnings in the beginning, but the hitting got so egregious, we implemented the tried and true discipline model for the milk and cookies set. So I gave her her first time out. But here's the thing, Chris and I can barely stop from laughing when we sit her down and set the timer. She just sits there, slightly smirking, yet so contrite, so serious, silently considering her actions and the consequences. She's just so damn cute, it's hard not to stare and smile. But we know our job, as fun-less as it can be some times. We know her proper understanding of the justice system depends on carrying out these critical first lessons in crime and punishment; so we walk away, smiling and giggling on the inside and later to each other.

And then there's Rose's particular response to the time-out......something I might characterize as devilishly nonchalant. Today, she hit Harper, sat for a time-out, said "sorry," gave her sister a hug, waited a beat, then promptly wailed on her again. Before Chris or I couldn't even manage to say that she was in for it, she ran over to the chair yelling, "time-out, time-out chair," took her seat, waited for a bit then ran to her sister for the "sorry" and hug-it-out portion of reconciliation. Difficult to pound in the concept of right and wrong when she loves the time-out chair, loves hugging her sister and loves apologizing.

I don't know where to go from here. The girl's so compliant, she's even punishing herself before we can get to it. A good problem to have, better than tears, kicking and screaming and evil demon kid voice, but what's next, time-outs from time-outs? Revoking hugs, apologies? Clearly, this one's gonna need a customized discipline program, because she just thinks time-outs are funny and she's clearly laughing at us...on the inside.