Many of the humorous stories about the kids in my books are based on real life experiences with my own offspring. I have four adult children, three boys and a girl, and ten grandchildren so far. The oldest three kids are married and the youngest is engaged to a girl he’s known since kindergarten. They bring love and joy to my life and provide fodder for my stories.
Each child is unique. Nature and nurturing may help shape them, but I’ve observed distinctive personalities from the get-go. It’s amazing how two kids raised in the same household can be so different. Parenting strategies that work with one child may not work with another. Likewise, previously successful tactics may cease being effective when a child enters a new phase of life.
I was talking with a friend about the use of a time-out chair as punishment for misbehavior. She said that she was considering discontinuing the usage. I was thinking the same. But her rationale was the complete opposite of mine. She said that the punishment was too severe and devastated her tender daughter. In my case, the punishment was ineffectual. It had absolutely no impact on my strong-willed daughter. Two friends. Two different outcomes. Go figure.
The first book includes a scene involving a time-out chair. It’s based on a true incident with my youngest son. The following is an excerpt from the scene:
“We stared at each other, neither of us blinking, as I counted to three. ‘Time’s up, young lady. Now, march,’ I commanded and pointed to the child-sized wicker rocking chair that had been mine long ago. Sheree stomped over to the chair and sat down on the well-worn seat with such force that she bottomed out—literally. Her rear end broke through the seat and sank onto the floor. Her body was firmly wedged in the chair and her feet flailed wildly as she tried to wiggle free. I noticed her predicament and did what any modern mother would do—I grabbed my cell phone and took some photos to post on social media before I extracted her from her self-made stockade.”
