Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy
@scarymommy
Latest posts by Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy (see all)
- The Disney Reveal - May 14, 2013
- Met My Match At Disney… - May 13, 2013
- Sunday’s Baltimore Sun - May 11, 2013
Though I try very hard not to judge my husband’s fathering*, sometimes it can be damn near impossible. I do realize, of course, that I’m not a perfect parent. Hardly. I’m just more perfect, most of the time. For example, I would never have thought mowing the lawn in flip flops while wearing my second child in the Baby Bjorn was good judgment. But I never would have mowed the lawn at all, in all fairness. But, I digress.
My middle child has become a bit of a biter lately. Not like a “walk up to random people on the street and bite them” kind of way, but in a “my sister just hit me and she’s stronger than I am so I’ll just bite her” way. I think it’s resourceful, while Jeff finds it worrisome.
A few nights ago, after repeated biting reports from his sister, Jeff called Ben downstairs. Benjamin, he began, this biting thing is very serious. Unacceptable. We do not bite. Do you understand? Ben nodded solemnly.
{Enter the part where I admit judgment}
If you keep biting, Jeff continued, I will have no choice but to take you to the dentist and have him pull out all of your teeth. Am I making myself clear?
{Thud.}
Even after my jaw dropped and I threatened him with blogging this asinine move, my husband stood firm. I bet your readers would take my side, he even said. I respectfully disagreed. No way would you all think that his ridiculous empty threat was wise. It was ludicrous, right?
Right??
(*For the record, I adore my husband and think he is an excellent father. And I would have said this even if he didn’t request it.)
{ 112 comments… read them below or add one }
I must disagree with your husband. While it sounds like a “scare” tactic, you can’t threaten kids if you have no intention of following through with the threat. If he bits again, and your husband does not take him to the dentist and have his teeth pulled out, then your son will learn that threats are meaningless and the value of future threats will become null and void. (Happy to take your side on this one)
.-= Suzanne Shaffer´s last blog ..What the Liberal Arts are NOT =-.
Thank you, Suzanne. You are really quite smart.
Seriously? No really, did it work?
.-= Keyona´s last blog ..Go! Go! Go! =-.
Not really. For the night, it was.
I gotta say….I think that’s hilarious!
I know I’m sorry, but I don’t have kids, and I would totally tell my nieces that….lol
.-= Honey´s last blog ..Baby Girl Nursery Decor =-.
It was comical. Like a bad sitcom.
Okay, that is too funny. But, I don’t want to be there when Ben bites again…because if he’s anything like my girls, he will totally test the waters.
You always have to be able to follow through. Good luck
.-= Krystyn´s last blog ..An Open Letter =-.
That’s the problem– he is such a tester. And, no, we have not followed through. Yet.
Hmmmm….this is a toughy. It also reminds me of the time my hubby caught one of my darlings eating (well…not to be indelicate…but the stuff one finds up one’s nose), y’know. He told them if they kept doing it they’d get worms.
Gag. That is so worth it, though.
I agree with you! That’s right up there with my parents’ go-to scare tactic. They used to say if I didn’t behave they “boogey monster” would come. Yea, that went over well when it came time for bed, guess who couldn’t sleep in their room? They had no one to blame but themselves for that one.
Sorry, but if my choices are his empty threats or your thinking that the biting is resourceful, I’m going to have to side with whichever one of you gets me the bigger bribe.
And also, I’m so in the “if you do this again, we will all die!” school of parenting, so I can’t really go against dad on this one.
WTF “dad on this one”–what am I now, Dr. Phil?
Marinka’s Solomonic judgment cracked me up!
And I’m with her: I like to dish out a little unreasonable fire and brimstone every now and then. Not that it ever gets me anywhere…
Bribes? I am all over bribery because I can totally follow through.
I am sort of stifling giggles over here. Mostly because I am glad it was your husband who did it and not mine. LOL. I mostly find it funny, but in all seriousness… what if that doesn’t work? :P
.-= JenniferG´s last blog ..Why I Never Make It To The Cookies. Ever. =-.
Apparently, when I was a little girl (about three years old) I bit my sister (exactly two years younger than me). Apparently, I bit her repeatedly, despite my mother’s best efforts to stop me. Apparently, out of desperation, my mother bit me (very gently) on the arm to show me that it is unpleasant and, in fact, painful. Apparently, I never bit anyone or anything ever again.
I’m not suggesting that one of you should bite your child. I’m just pointing out that sometimes parents get desperate for a solution and come up with totally crazy (and, some could argue, irresponsible) solutions to the problem.
If there is one thing about parenting that I am dreading it is dealing with biting. I have no idea what I will do if (I know I should say when, but I am naively hopeful) I am faced with this situation.
I just asked hubby, and he said “I believe in empty threats.” So maybe this is a guy thing?
This cracked me up. I have totally bitten him– perhaps not hard enough, though, since it was a month ago.
I’m sorry to admit I bit my kid to stop the biting too. Even worse, it worked. Luckily mine wasn’t as resourseful (or a total snot) as I was as a kid. I would bite myself to get my sis in trouble. Mom finally figured it out by my crooked front teeth marks.
Okay, first of all, that’s hilarious. It prob’ly isn’t the best idea (I don’t have experience with this yet), but if he does bite again? You could always drag him to the kitchen (or wherever you keep the phone), and listen as you make an appointment with the dentist (for a cleaning, but he doesn’t have to know that).
I’ll bet that would have him screaming an apology!
And no, I’d probably never have the guts to do that.
.-= amber´s last blog ..An Open Letter to Whoever Designed My Car. =-.
Oh, the poor kid would be traumatized!
In my whole almost 13 years of parenting, I have learned many importent lessons…one of which is ALWAYS be able to backup your threats with action.
And clearly this isn’t one of those moments…so, bad parenting call, in my opinion.
But hilarious.
and a total DAD threat. hehe
.-= Rhea´s last blog ..The Vigin Mary danced ballet to rock music while holding a fake baby Jesus =-.
Yes, total dad move. Morons.
Okay, that threat just scared me into never ever biting. I’m sold on his technique. ;)
.-= Grey Street Girl´s last blog ..Bittersweet Sundays =-.
LOL – I agree… I LIKELY would not have threatened something on which I had no hope of following through. (Right? I’m hoping?!?!?)
I will say, however, that when I was a kid. I bit my mother once, she bit me back, and I never bit anyone or anything ever again.
That is totally going to be MY approach.
Ha! Okay well what your husband said is something I might have said… or something my husband would have said, too! My baby is scared of this cactus plant at my inlaws, and sometimes we say ‘no, Dimitry.. the cactus is watching!’ and then he stopped whatever bad thing he is doing!
.-= Loukia´s last blog ..TOP TEN! Thank you! =-.
Agreed that empty threats; especially one so ludicrous: bad idea.
The phone call for appt is a good idea for backing it up.
Gently biting to show how painful it is actually sounds pretty good too. Doesn’t mesh with hub’s threat tho. ;p
Did it work? Is he still biting?
.-= Dolli-mama´s last blog ..Social girl =-.
Yes, but not so much when Daddy is home. Of course.
my dad used to threaten that he’d break both my legs or he’d lock me in my room forever sort of things.
after a couple empty threats, i just continued on my merry trouble-making ways.
empty threats don’t work. you can tell your husband that. threatening and then following through…that works. but just like my legs have never been broken and i knew they wouldn’t be, your son knows daddy was blowing steam out the pie hole.
xo
.-= melissa´s last blog ..Pride, Featured Posts And A Little Frustration Thrown In The Mix =-.
HA! And you lived to tell, huh?
I understand why your husband would say that, however (always that isn’t there?) as a parent I’ve learned you can’t make threats you’re not willing to carry through with. Kids naturally test those waters on a daily basis.
My daughters great aunt once bit her to try to teach her a lesson about biting. I was furious by that tactic. How is biting a child teaching them NOT to bite. I set her straight on that one.
(Hugs)Indigo
.-= Indigo´s last blog ..Universally Speaking =-.
Hahaha. I think it’s a funny thing to say to your kid, honestly. But… let’s admit it, he’s not going to actually do it so he shouldn’t make empty threats.
.-= The Wifey´s last blog ..S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night! =-.
As a tester myself, I can tell you that empty threats did me no good. In fact, I learned to laugh in the face of whomever threatened me with their nonesense. I do know my aunt was a biter and my grandmother did the bite back hard thing. It did work for her. If you cannot back up your threat fully, your child will learn this quickly. I side with you! :-D
I’m not going to lie. That sounds exactly like something I would say. I threaten my kids to kick ‘em in the throat all the time (sounds mean but seriously, it just slips out). I also at one point told Tristan that Ba-bow (Blue from Blue’s Clues) died so he wouldn’t have to watch it anymore (now, granted this was a time when we lived in a virginia at a group home caring for 6 teen boys and I was mighty pregnant and stressed and couldn’t take him saying ‘ba-bow, ba-bow’ over and over because he wanted to watch it and he couldn’t understand it anyway).
I should stop with the throat kick threats though…
.-= S Club Mama´s last blog ..babywearing =-.
I actually think that’s really funny, but I get why it’s probably not effective.
.-= Momlissa´s last blog ..Survival Mode, Pt. 2 =-.
I don’t believe in lying to kids. It just makes growing up that much harder when you have to face reality.
.-= Aimee´s last blog ..9 years ago today =-.
Okay… so I am TOTALLY with you here!!!! Sometimes my husband’s parenting judgment makes me cringe.
I bet they just totally love us for our blogs and the things we tell the world LOL!!
.-= Amanda (Garibay Soup)´s last blog ..My Heart is Shattered… =-.
If you don’t mind, I’d like to use that technique on one of my three. It’s got just the right amount of terror to prevent further attacks.
.-= kelly´s last blog ..True Evil =-.
I think my husband would be jealous he did not think of threatening that, and although I find it hilarious if Ben is anything like my daughter, who has started biting from time to time, he will call that bluff the next chance he gets!
I completely agree with you, and my husband completely agrees with your hubby.
Is your poor child cowering in his bed, holding his hands in front of his mouth?
In all honesty, I am laughing my ass off right now.
.-= Becca – Our Crazy Boys´s last blog ..So tired. =-.
Really? I find it so amusing that *anyone* agrees. Of course it’s a man!!
While I think that is hysterical, it is obviously an empty threat and will be taken as such by your son. Now if you were to call up the dentist after the next time, maybe…
.-= Cara´s last blog ..Sunday Afternoon =-.
As many of the comments indicate, I agree that empty threats are meaningless to children. They are pretty darned logical and I have to understand the repercussions of anything and everything I say to my 3-year-old now…’cause he’ll call me on it every time.
I have to say, I literally laughed out loud when I read your husband’s tactic, though. I’m sure he was serious, but it was pretty darn funny in print.
.-= Mariano´s last blog ..The Web and You Blog Carnival – December 8, 2009 =-.
There’s the whole issue with empty threats…but then there’s the scare factor, so they never know it’s an empty threat…. It would never work with my kids – no threats work with them..If I would have told my oldest he’d get his teeth out, he’d probably have said, “Ok, well then I can drink more milkshakes” or something. hehe
I think that is awesome and hilarious. And totally something I would say to my kid.
But I’m gonna have to agree with you, just cuz you are hot and i luv you.
As funny as I might think this story is….I agree with MOM. Idle threats never work with kids…but couldnt be worse than our mom using the “bite the child back” tatic either. Which sound and is cruel, but must say, it worked for us growing up.
.-= Chrisy Bates´s last blog ..Dreaded News =-.
ugh – i think i used to bite my sister and my mother bit me in return. it didn’t teach me anything – i hated her AND my sister for it!!! (not now, but at the time). you’re brave to share – parenting is HARD!!! esp, when all your kids are so darn cute!
.-= scrappysue´s last blog ..photostory friday – belles of the ball and adventurous kiwi teens =-.
#1: bad choice
#2 never never ever do an empty threat on your kid… they’ll question all your judgements after that
#3 i hope it was an empty threat!
#4 i was a biter as a kid until my mom bit me back one day (not hard); i never bit again.
.-= WackyMummy´s last blog ..A Look At Our Week =-.
While I understand your husband’s frustration, I never threaten a consequence that I can’t pull off.
.-= Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last blog ..I need to build a robot. =-.
When I was a kid babysitting my nieces and nephews and they bit, I would bite them back. It worked every time. Just tryin’ to help!
A big NO on the empty threats! How then will the boy know in the future what consequences are serious and what aren’t?
My husband is the king of the threats. He gives his decree and then leaves for work or out of town on a trip and leaves me to do the dirty work of actually following through. I keep telling him the person he is punishing the most is ME!
Stupidest thing in the world to threaten something you will never ever do!
Jill, I’ll always take your side. But I’m laughing so hard right now I can’t even think straight.
My dad used to tell my sister and me when we were fighting, “We’re going to have to put one of you up for adoption, and it’s up to the two of you to decide who it will be.” It was an insane thing to say, but since he’s an otherwise gentle, affectionate guy we (kind of) knew it was an empty threat. It always worked for the moment, but we’re still fighting.
Okay, I have to admit, I thought your hubby’s idea of punishment was hysterical. Would it work on most kids? Nope. No follow-through!
I think you should just bite him every time he bites his sister… see how he likes it.
You don’t like that idea either, do you?
Justine :o )
.-= Justine´s last blog ..Christmas Time Is Here =-.
I agree with you, of course. I believe empty threats will serve no purpose. Because if he continues biting, what will your husband do then. Your son will begin to think that his father does not mean anything he says.
Now I guess that depends on if the threat worked. That will be the true judge if it worked.
And I guess the saying is true, great minds do think alike because I wrote about my Jeff’s parenting too.
.-= Jen @ buried with children´s last blog ..The Sarcastic Parent =-.
In principle, definitely wrong. Empty threats that are not followed through with are bad.
However. Biting is bad, too. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do. :)
I wonder why I never thought of this. My twins were biting fanatics. Luckily, for most they only bit each other, but they usually sported about 14 biting bruises each.
.-= angie´s last blog ..Little Boys Package =-.
It is not the approach I would have taken, but Moms and Dads tend to take completely different paths. Hopefully the paths end up at the same spot, though. Just another example of the differences in the sexes. Another difference is that he probably doesn’t care how many people will agree or disagree, where as Moms we try to validate ourselves, thoughts and actions more. At least I do. :-P
.-= Kim Young´s last blog ..Hide and Reek =-.
I have to tell you that is hilarious!
.-= Stephaine @ Geezees´s last blog ..took a break for a day … 2 birthdays , one party, and a whole lotta ice =-.
LOL. I’m with you on this one.
AND I have a trick that might work to put the biting to an end for good (at least it worked for my child). Next time he bites – take some red wine vinegar put a bit on a cloth and rub it on his tongue. I only had to do this twice; he never bit again (may not ever eat Italian dressing though). After that all I had to do was take out the bottle.
.-= Gigi´s last blog ..Wish us some luck! =-.
So while (trying to) potty train my 3 year old, she would do this fun thing of holding her pee for, oh 17 hours at a time. I was terribly freaked out by this, so in a moment of desperation I told her that if she didn’t pee I would have to take her to the doctors where they would stick a tube inside her to take all the pee out. She peed within 30 seconds. Now anytime she holds her pee, I just ask her if I need to call the doctor and she says no then pees. Although I see your point and actually agree with you, I would probably end up being the parent who threatens to remove my kids teeth. Jeez I’m a jerk! :-)
.-= Danielle´s last blog ..How can I torture my child when she gets older??? =-.
I just read a few of the comments, because I’m at work and I can’t read them all, but here is what I think… NO empty threats. If you can’t follow through then don’t say it. BUT I also think that biting is bad and worrisome. But then my kids are in daycare and biting can be really, really bad. Like they will kick your kid out if you can’t get it under control. My solution to biting is (gasp) spanking or biting back. I know not everyone agrees with that, but it is working for us. Bud bit me once, really hard, and I spanked his leg once really hard. He hasn’t bit me again and if he tries I tell him no biting and ask if he wants a spanking and he stops and diverts. He also bit his sister once really hard and got a spanking for that. It is just a behaviour I’m not going to tolerate. Soooo, if you are up for it. Get Lily to bite him back (or stop hitting) and I bet he stops.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Small Town Saturday Night, Wordful Wednesday =-.
Do you watch Modern Family? Last week’s episode was so funny. The couple finds a cigarette burn on the couch and questions their three kids. When no one come forward, the mom begins, “well, if none of you come forward…” and the dad finishes with “we’re taking away Christmas” then it cuts to their talking heads where they admit he always goes to the extreme. While laughing my husband kept asking me “what? why are you looking at me?”
It’s just what they do.
.-= Lori Z.´s last blog ..Doing Right By Grandma =-.
Okay, he totally gets bonus points for creativity. I’m sorry, I am just laughing my butt off over here.
Probably because even your hubby’s half-assed attempts at discipline are better than my husband’s non-existent ones. ALL of the scolding is left to me and it sucks the big one.
And, psssst, little secret: as a former biter, I think middle child will still turn out just fine.
.-= TheKitchenWitch´s last blog ..The Cat Lady =-.
Who says my threat was empty?? They’re baby teeth anyway, so what harm is there in pulling them out? :)
Great point. Besides, you’d only have to pull four before he totally got the message.
.-= Marinka´s last blog ..Now You’re Cooking! =-.
Well, being that I have 20 years of child rearing behind me….and I’ve tried every trick in the book including idle threats. I am fortunate to have NEVER HAD A BITER IN THE FAMILY! That said, I have had biters in my classrooms. SO when someone else’s kid is the one who is getting disciplined, one may have to use white tipped gloves.
Your husbands tactics may only be good on your own kids, and well I say. Let him use it! The next time you see a kid who had lost a few teeth dad can point out…..”See that kid over there? Bet he’s not biting his sister anymore”
OMG, that would be HILARIOUS!! FInd a kid missing a few teeth and USE that! Saves you having to do the dentist trip for sure :)
.-= Carrie´s last blog ..Tis the Season! =-.
HAHAH, that is too effin’ funny! Great idea :-)
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Chirstmas Cards =-.
–>I would have been mortified if my husband had said that to my son. If he bites again and of course doesn’t go to the dentist, where’s the credibility?
.-= WebSavyMom´s last blog ..Flashback Friday (Part 41) – College Roommates (not) From Hell =-.
I have said the same thing as your husband, maybe not biting and teeth pulling but an empty threat and though it “feels good” when it comes out, it makes no sense. The kiddos soon learn you don’t follow thru.
So basically, tell husband…. ehhh wrong.
.-= Vodka Logic´s last blog ..A Fantasy Weekend with Basspro and Harry Potter =-.
I don’t seem to have a huge issue with biting but I have noticed my older girl doing things I have REPEATEDLY asked her NOT to do every time I sit down to nurse her sister. I guess it’s a need for attention but not too much I can do about it until I’m finished nursing…so I end up yelling at her when she climbs around us and kicks me or her sister in the head. Argh. Just makes her want MORE attention because she’s been yelled at but it takes time to get back to the “everyone is happy, feeling good” vibe once you yell.
I am also annoyed with my husband’s lack of using discipline. I think he’s coasted on the “she’s only 2″ and “she’s only 3″ excuse for far too long. If we’d nipped it in the bud sooner maybe we wouldn’t have the issues we do now. I’m the only one who tries to consistantly use time-outs and since there is no consistancy, there hasn’t been much change…not sure what to do now…
.-= Carrie´s last blog ..Tis the Season! =-.
I am so laughing at this. Hubby is lucky that biter didn’t think hubby was picking on his and decided that biting might be the solution.
.-= Nicki´s last blog ..My First Race =-.
I’m not into the empty threats. Kids learn quickly that the parent’s threats mean nothing and lose respect.
My brother was a biter. My parents used positive reinforcement charts w/ small rewards and that really helped.
.-= Maya´s last blog ..The Most Special Christmas =-.
Lord Have Mercy… that’s what I’m in store for with my husband. He likes to tell our 14 MONTH OLD “this crying is completely unacceptable.” Right. She totally gets that.
.-= Sara — The Football Wife´s last blog ..Christmas Shopping – The EASY Way? =-.
I’m with you. We are big believers in only threatening with things that will *actually* happen. My least favorite (but true) used in our house is “If you keep acting up, no dance class.” I’m paying a lot of money for dance class and the 50 minutes of mom time it gives me! I hope we NEVER have to follow through on this one!
That’s a great one! You know what might make it even better? If you TAKE the child to the class, but make her/him sit on the sidelines and WATCH the class (if you keep the kid home, the kid doesn’t really feel the effects because they’re doing other things and not thinking about the dance class). And you c0uld give the teacher the heads up so she might come over and say something like, “I sure wish you could have danced with us today. I hope you can join us next time.” I bet it would only happen once!
I know, no empty threats, it’s what all the books say. But I’m with your husband. It was funny and it sounds like it worked. We can’t parent by the book ALL the time.
I’m with him- I think it was creative
My daughter (19 mos) has been biting her older brother lately, too. I don’t think she’d understand the threat, but if the timeouts stop working….
In seriousness, I realized the hard way a couple weeks ago just how much a ridiculous, playful threat can scare the pants off of a kid. My 2 y/o had covered his entire body with return address labels (which I gave him to use in his coloring book) and I said he looked ready to mail off.
Terrified, he cried that he didn’t want us to put him in the mailbox or have the mailman take him away for a good 10 minutes, and needed tons of reassurance that we wouldn’t ship him off the rest of the day. I can see how teeth removal could sound just as frightening.
My husband and I also try to keep our “critiques” of each other’s parenting to a minimum, but sometimes you just have to call it like you see it. :)
.-= Deb´s last blog ..Real men wear pee =-.
Sounds like something my husband would have said. Hey, empty threats and all–whatever works, right?
.-= Theta Mom´s last blog ..The Demi Bella Review and Giveaway =-.
Hey, it might work! I told my biter that *I* would bite *HIM* if he ever bit his brother again.
And I did.
.-= Nan´s last blog ..But First, The Highlights… =-.
Ah Nan, yes I have threatened to bite back and done so while showing my giant grown up permanent teeth and yes, I think I would take a nibble to prove my point. She did not bite after that.
I am on your side though Scary Mommy, because having all your teeth pulled out sounds like some terrible torture that is clearly NOT going to happen.
Nan, my husband told our son the same thing – and it worked!
.-= Noelle´s last blog ..Memories Of Our First Christmas, And Our First Major Incompatibility =-.
one more comment like that, and I’m going to take him to the doctor and have his vocal chords removed!
Grammy
As a girl who is terrified of needles (and therefore, anything related to dental work,) I vote no threatening :) I would love to NOT be scared of needles, and I think threatening me would make it worse.
.-= Cheryl´s last blog ..The Blue & White Life =-.
WHAT????? That is the most idiotic threat I’ve ever heard. In my life. Ever.
.-= Mwa´s last blog ..You make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside =-.
That is hilarious! Bonus points to hubs for such creativity. I say let’s wait and see before we judge. If he doesn’t bite any more, kudos to your husband. If he does and obviously, you can’t follow through, then you are in one big pickle. Best of luck and keep us posted on how it goes!
.-= ~Laura´s last blog ..The Giving Tree =-.
LOL! It’s a pretty funny threat, but I agree with the no empty threats rule.
It still made me GOL (giggle out loud).
.-= Notesfromthegrove´s last blog ..I’m a DJ. On the radio. Just in case you were wondering… =-.
That is straight out of a comedy. AND a good one. Hysterical and it could just work. Can’t wait for the follow up post.
.-= Stefanie´s last blog ..black friday the conclusion =-.
Hysterical! But no empty threats Jeff!
We usually do time-outs here if anything that shouldn’t be done gets done.
But biting is not a joke! Good thing he is only biting his sister :)
.-= Sophia’s Mom´s last blog ..Umami Road: Review and Giveaway =-.
I think that’s pretty funny! We always say goofy things like that around here. Doesn’t hurt to have a sense of humor once in awhile ;o)
.-= Mom Taxi Julie´s last blog ..Good Bye To A Dear Friend =-.
That actually sounds like something both my husband and I would say. The Hubs and I say things like that all the time….we think a little bit of fear, when used right, can be healthy. Of course, in 20 years, when Mads is having conversations with her shrink and relays the sorts of things we said to her as a child, we might not be of the same thinking. LOL
.-= HaB´s last blog ..Hunting vs. the Snowman =-.
I would say that is fine to say. But of course, I am the WORST mother on the planet : ) so take it with a grain of salt : )
.-= Life with Kaishon´s last blog ..A Horse is a Horse of course, of course! =-.
I agree with you. You cannot use “threats” of things that you cannot or will not follow through on. Sorry.
.-= Missy´s last blog ..The Making of a Car =-.
I agree with you, my friend. I can’t stand it when my husband or my oldest daughter (because she does it all the time) threatens the little kids with things that they cannot follow through on. Bugs me.
.-= Lolli´s last blog ..Holiday Shopping – Holiday Shipping =-.
No. Empty. Threats. Ever.
That said? I’m so glad he made his hilarious, empty threat because it made for some very entertaining reading today!
.-= Jane´s last blog ..Tunes for Tuesday – The Show =-.
Some others have already mentioned Modern Family, but I have to, too. It’s pretty much the same thing: making RIDICULOUS threats that have to be followed through on haha. My husband just told our 2 year old the other day that if he didn’t eat his vitamins he wouldn’t get any breakfast. haha I looked at him and said, “Oh, really??”
He’s yet to see that Modern Family episode. I have it saved on Hulu just for him.
.-= Jessica – This Is Worthwhile´s last blog ..When rocks are feathers =-.
HAHAH. Totally sounds like something I would say, but then immediately regret! When our oldest started biting, once we bit him back, he stopped.
I’m not a fan of empty threats. If you say threaten something, you have to be able to follow up iwth it. THat’s solely my opinion of course.
Funny though!!! :)
.-= Jamie´s last blog ..Know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, and know when to run =-.
I try not to make threats that I can’t back up. Last thing I want is for them to figure out that we have little to no power. ;)
.-= Jack´s last blog ..How Do You Become a Father =-.
I kind of think that’s pretty funny. The kind of thing that would be said in jest at our house. I’m not sure exactly if I would say it in serious-ness, but I should also note that I have given empty threats in the past…
I also giggle at the visual of the lawn mowing incident :)
.-= June´s last blog ..Cloth Diapers, Part Deux =-.
Kids bite, it happens. I recommend the book Teeth are Not For Biting.
.-= jodifur´s last blog ..All Of My Electronic Devices Are Conspiring Against Me =-.
Sorry Scary Husband, but even as a fellow dude I wouldn’t agree that this was a good way to approach it. Of course Lukas is currently experiencing nightmares so I don’t want to frighten him any more than he already is.
.-= Seattledad (Luke, I am Your Father)´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday: Fireball Edition =-.
Dude! You NEVER threaten anything you’re not willing to follow up on!!!! They learn very quickly if you mean otherwise… Like when my Hubs said he would shave my daughter’s head if she didn’t stop screaming when he washed her hair… However I went into the bathroom, said if she didn’t stop screaming and trying to force herself to puke in the tub b/c she didn’t want her hair washed, and that her behavior wasn’t acceptable inside of my house… she gave me the “I dont’ believe you” look… and I promptly dressed her in underwear and a robe and put her out on the patio until she calmed down… eh, yeah… it was January and cold… good thing my neighbors kids were worse than mine!
.-= Holly´s last blog ..Bravo! =-.
Well…I don’t know if I can really say much here. Considering the fact that I threaten to leave my children behind if they don’t come with me “RIGHT NOW!” on a daily basis…
um, ill take the BAD mom of the year award, because i have used that threat myself.
scared straight i say.
Aw man. I just want to say Oh Yeah, that was funny, Dad! Okay, I’ll be the proper Mommy. Dad, you can’t say stuff like that. I was terrified when I was little that I would have to get all my teeth pulled out when I was my Granddad’s age. It seemed that all old people were doing it.
Okay, now I have totally digressed.
.-= Teri´s last blog ..Goodbye, Cousin =-.
Well did it stop the biting?
.-= Angela´s last blog ..Merry Christmas! =-.
I hate to say it, but it did seem to. Crap.
The husband solution to the biting son over here was simply to bite him back! Don’t you know it worked like a charm. I was happy that the bruises on my arms could heal and I could fear no more the jaw latch on my groin! Yowsers!
I’m pretty sure that Dads have a lot more leniency in the threatening realm. I’m almost jealous, even if there IS a fair amount of jaw-dropping judgment on my part as my husband launches his newest BRIGHT ideas (aka Threats).
By the way…has it worked? Has the biter laid low?
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..Ten from Jen: Blog Posts of 2009 =-.