Works for Me Wednesday!
Ok, so I can't really take credit for this idea - I got it from Lisa Whelchel's wonderful book "Creative Correction." If you don't have it and you have kids - you need this book!!
Let's just say that once in a while (certainly not every single day of my life!) certain people of the short variety decide to have some ugly stuff come out of their mouths. It might be sass, it might be unkind words to a brother or sister, it might be a lie. Anything that involves a sin of the tongue, I have a special "reward" for. Picture me here rubbing my hands and doing my best evil laugh here.
If something yucky comes out of their mouth, something yucky goes in - vinegar. Now, to adults such as you and I, vinegar is a delightful ingredient in salads and many other things. But to a child? Pure torture, I tell you. My children would rather be grounded, rather get a spanking, rather be locked outside for 6 days straight than have to get some vinegar put in their mouth.
But it has helped them to remember to keep their words "sweet" not "sour." I know lots of moms use soap or hot sauce, both of which I just could never bring myself to do. But vinegar is an actual food product that's safe to ingest, and isn't actually painful, just, well, sour.
It works miracles, I tell you!! And that works for me! For more great ideas, be sure to visit Rocks in My Dryer!
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9 comments:
great tip! I never would have thought of it. I grew up with the soap and hot sauce treatment too, and I would never do those to my kids...but I like the vinegar idea!
I also use vinegar as "hypochondriac medicine" for my children who are overly dramatic about hangnails and such. They also will fight if one gets actual medicine - it's so sweet they see it as a treat. So they get a medicine cup full of apple cider vinegar to cure what ails them.
The hot sauce wouldn't work for my oldest daughter who absolutely adores hot and spicy foods and the soap, though gross tasting, isn't as memorable as I'd think vinegar would be. Hmmmmm, I'll have to remember this one!
Interesting. If you don't mind elaborating, what do you tell them? I try to lean more toward "natural consequences", but since unkind words toward siblings seems to be getting out of control, I might consider this. Do you just tell them that since sour words come out, something sour has to go in?
Alli, what I tell them is that it's a way to help them remember that ugly words are real and have real effect. It's very easy to just spout off something horrible and go about your day. The taste of the sour vinegar helps make a mental picture of what that ugliness leaves behind.
That certainly is a creative idea. I've written down the name of the book as well. Thanks for sharing.
Soap has never erally worked and both my boys range from outright lies to creative stories... all of which are lies in God's book. I like the idea of using vinegar (and thank you for the book referral!) as well as the scripture about consistancy coming out of our mouths (1 Corinthians) Thank you!
I think my kids would think I'd lost my mind if I tried this, but I keep seeing variations on this theme. If nothing else, it serves as a reminder that we don't have to let differences (discipline styles) interfere with our similarities (homeschooling, Christianity). I saw in another post that you may be moving to Dubai...I will keep your family in prayer.
Good idea- great book!