Stepfamilies:
Help for a Dad and His Stepson Q: I have a 7 1/2 year old son from a previous marriage. My present husband and I have two more boys ( 2 & 6 months). Our 2 year old is sooooooo hard headed and throws some huge fits if he doesn't get his way. My husband says he is only 2 and doesn't know any better; however my 7 year old gets treated like an adult. If he doesn't sit up straight at the dinner table, if he eats too fast, if he shuts the doors too loudly and so on. He currently has all of his stuff boxed up, and he doesn't have any toys to play with. We went to a counselor and she is the one who made the suggestions. I was just wondering if you all had some punishment suggestions. A: My name is Cheryl Erwin; I am a marriage and family therapist who
works with children and families and one of the co-authors of several books in
the “Positive Discipline” series. I also raised my son, now 25, as part of a
stepfamily (two stepfamilies, actually, if you count his dad’s home) and know
how complicated it can be. It’s good that you and your husband recognize that your
two-year-old’s “hard-headedness” is partly due to his age and development.
Preschoolers need kind, firm teaching and parenting tools like distraction and
redirection while they learn about boundaries and social skills. However, your
seven-year-old is also not an adult. He is immature and unskilled, and is still
adjusting to the changes in your family over the past few years, including a
new stepdad and new siblings—changes that might even be hard for us to accept
as adults. It sounds as though he’s being asked to live up to expectations that
are beyond his ability at seven. Children need more than love to do their best: they need what we
call a sense of belonging and significance. A child’s sense of belonging can
get confused when parents remarry and families change, and when kids feel
discouraged or out of place, they often misbehave. “Misbehavior” attracts adult
attention, and for a little guy now competing with two babies, that might seem good
enough. With all respect to your counselor, punishment—no matter what kind
you use—is not going to solve this problem. Imagine for a moment that you are
your son; try to see the world through his eyes. You don’t say whether he goes
back and forth between your home and his birth dad’s home, but if he does,
there’s another layer of complications, since the rules are probably different
there. Your seven-year-old might see his stepdad being strict with him, but
loving and kind with his little brothers—and that doesn’t feel fair. He might
even be trying his best to please, but be unable to sit up straight, close
doors properly, and follow all the rules all of the time. And that would be
discouraging for anyone. Here are some suggestions you might try to make a difference: ·
First, connection (relationships) always comes before
correction. Your son and his stepdad need to build a relationship of their own,
which will take time and patience on your husband’s part. Spending “special
time” together—perhaps 10 or 15 minutes each day just hanging out or talking
together—might help them learn to connect better and build real respect and
affection. ·
Your son will probably do and feel better if you and your husband
offer him encouragement. Notice what he does well; give him credit when he
tries to do the right thing. Having our mistakes constantly pointed out to us
is discouraging, and doesn’t invite good behavior. Your husband undoubtedly
means well and wants to be a good dad to your son—but what you are describing
is not truly helpful in the long term. ·
Discipline and punishment are not the same thing. The word
“discipline” means “to teach,” while punishment is something a more powerful
person does to a less powerful person to “make” him obey. If you look at
discipline as teaching, what might your son need to learn in order to get along
better in your home? Taking away all his toys doesn’t actually teach him
anything—except to resent and resist you. I would suggest unpacking the toys
together (with your husband) and having a kind, respectful conversation about
what you want from him. Be sure he truly understands your rules. Kids rarely
see the world the same way adults do. ·
Consider having regular family meetings where you can share
appreciation and encouragement and solve problems together. This will
help your son feel like an important part of your new family and teach him
problem-solving skills at the same time. ·
You might also consider taking a parenting class for stepfamilies
with your husband or reading a parenting book together. I would suggest you
read “Positive Discipline”, “Positive Discipline for Preschoolers,” or
“Positive Discipline for Your Stepfamily” (which is out of print but available
at libraries, used, or as an e-book at www.positivediscipline.com). It isn’t easy to build a new stepfamily but it is possible.
Encourage respect and kindness, and be patient. Warm regards, Cheryl L. Erwin, MA, MFT Certified Positive Discipline Associate and Lead Trainer | The Positive Discipline Association recieves a 5% donation for all purchases made at www.positivediscipline.com |