A Handfull of What?

Today, Hot Wife took Baby O to the doctor for a check up. While there, Dr. P, the best pediatrician ever, agreed with Hot Wife's comment that, "she's [baby O] a handfull". I know she didn't mean it in any kind of bad way. However, we needed a little reality check and Baby O is getting a little tempermental.

Okay, so give me a break, first child, first grandchild for all grandparents... Of course she'll be a little spoiled, we accept that. But, I think we're facing the reality of parenting where we have to enforce some dicipline.

I am trying to remember what I learned from a cabin (8) of ten-year old boys at Falling Creek Camp when I was a couselor. By the way, a great experience if you ever get the chance. I do remember my first year. I was a college student that was expected to care for young boys for a four or five-week term. Wow the parents really didn't know where they were sending their boys!!! Anyway, back to the first year. My group of boys arrived for the five-week session. My goal was to be accepted by them so I was the easy-going leader who let them bend the rules. I was thinking that they would love me because I let them have a fun time. We that didn't work! A week into the five-week session and our cabin was falling apart.

Redemption time... The second week, I did a full-180 and was a tough guy. If you don't obey the rules there will be consequences and dire ones at that. Well, nobody likes a jerk. Not even a ten-year old.

Hmm. I scratched my head... I was finally inspired. The problem about week one and week two, is that my attitude toward the kid was all about me. From the third week on, I was inspired to show the kids that I genuinely cared for them and assumed the role of leader. And by leader, I mean servant leader -- yeah I know it's a little Biblical.

Anyway, what I learned is that there is a reasonable balance between strict and "fun". However, above all, kids have a sense no matter their age, and can tell if you truly care for them or not. And no matter how you dicipline them or "guide" their paths, they know if you desire their best interest or yours.

So, if you've made it this far, you might think I have my act together. Well, I don't! So, what do you do with one-year olds? Spank? I tried that the other day, but wimped out and it was more of a nice tap on the leg. Argh! How about time-out? There's got to be other ideas out there. I mean I got really creative at the camp, but I'm drawing a blank now almost ten years later.

Please comment your ideas. I look forward to hearing from you all!