How to Discipline Your Toddler and Empower Them

Morgen and Trisha are finding themselves in a state of
toddlerhood exhaustion, as they call it. Charlie and Remi are
nonstop, and although this episode is about discipline, they
realize it's more about communication. 


As the girls grow and develop more, Morgen and Trisha are
discovering that how they communicate with Charlie and Remi can
make all the difference. It takes a healthy dose of patience and
practice, but it yields results that make everyone happy...
usually. Haha!


Trisha has found it helpful to physically removing Remi from a
situation when she is having a tantrum or meltdown. She gets down
to her level to look her in the eyes, discusses what has happened
and what Remi is feeling. It has helped a lot in stopping the
tantrum or meltdown from escalating. 


Morgen is excellent at allowing Charlie to express herself but is
teaching Charlie how to navigate her negative feelings. Another
thing Morgen is trying to avoid is using 'No' and 'don't' and
rewording what she would like Charlie to do with a more precise
and positive spin. For example, "Charlie, don't spit your water"
to "Charlie, water is for drinking, please keep it in your
mouth." Now don't get the wrong idea, 'no' and 'don't' has by no
means been eliminated from their vocabulary. Reminder: we are
dealing with toddlers here!


Morgen and Trisha agree that at the heart of it all, repetition
and consistency are essential... hence the exhaustion. They also
feel that giving the girls choices allows them to feel empowered
and involved in the process. They can exercise their newfound
independence and have a sense of pride once they have chosen and
accomplished particular tasks. 


On a real note, this has been a lot of trial and error. Morgen
and Trisha are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, nor
do they claim to know it all. This is just a way for them to
share with one another what has worked, what hasn't worked, and
what new approaches they are trying. 


So to all the mama's, papa's and caregivers of toddlers out
there, you're doing great! Please do share your tricks, tips, and
stories with us because we value your life experiences and
learnings along the way! Thanks! Five Reasons to Stop Saying
"Good Job!" (**) - Alfie Kohn