Spare the rod, spoil the child

[Jacob(smooth)]

Works well. Provided the kid will do what you tell them to do.

That's the catch, isn't it? If it gets to the point where they won't cooperate, as a parent, you're bloody well screwed.

Makes it tougher certainly. That's where the toolkit comes in.

I remember thing 1 having an epic temper tantrum. I sat calmly with her, refused to let her rile me, explained why her behaviour was inappropriate and talked her Down. She apologised and understood.

Next day she did it again. Same strategy, same result.

Next day again.
And again. Morning AND evening.
For a week and a bit.

Figured out in the end that she was relishing the attention and quality time! And was thus flipping out so I would spend the time calming her down. On the last day I lost it, yelled at her and told her if she spoke to me like that again I would send her to her room when she got home, give her dinner in there and not let her down until she could behave in a decent manner.

And that was that.