Our kids have very different characteristics, and it’s hard to bring them up with the same set of parenting skills. I’m not saying that we are not being fair to both Justin and Isabelle, but the way we lecture or discipline them is very different. Justin has always been the easy one, we just have to tell him the pros and cons, the dos and dons and also what are the consequences, or a whack at the b*ttock (err…at very rare circumstances ), and he will get the message. He hardly repeats the same wrong doing.

But with Isabelle, it can be rather “ting sam ting fai”, and some times, I need to walk away from her to cool myself down. Even if we smack her b*ttock, she will ask you, “Why you piak me? Don’t piak me.” I know she is right, but after lecturing and scolding for many times on the same issue and she is still very stubborn, it’s just hard to go on without a smack.

I’m used to be one of those parents who is against smacking, but now I think a smack can show that mommy and daddy is serious about this. For things like running across the street is no joke ok? Besides that, smacking with our hands hurt ourselves too, so we know that we should not do this much. Talking to the kids is still our most preferred way of disciplining them, but for Isabelle, it can be quite hard some times. On top of that, our kids might answer, “Even if you piak me also no pain wan.” Wah seh, maybe it’s because they have never seen a cane!!! LOL!

Lucky them, I can still remember my primary school teachers smacking my hands with a cane last time, and it’s d*mn painful!!! My kids are lucky that they have no idea what is a cane!

My kids like to go to our neighbor’s house to play and watch TV with the kids, and their friends will come over as well. But on last Friday night, my kids were crying nonsensically when their friend went home. It’s already very late and it’s dinner time but they refused to let their friend go. After some scolding, Justin got the idea, and hubby made him repeat what he had learned from this incident like, “If Nong Fok wants to go home, we have to let him go. I cannot cry, we can play again next time….and bla bla bla.” Justin had no problem telling us that.

But our Isabelle is totally different…

Daddy’s talking to Isabelle.

Daddy: If Nong Fok wants to go home, can you cry?

Isabelle: Can. *mommy and papa almost wanted to vomit because it’s already a zillion times we talked about this”

Daddy: No, you cannot cry. Fok has to go home, this is not Fok’s home.

Isabelle: I want Fok to come and sleep in my bed. *wah piang….*

Daddy: No, your friend has to go home when it’s late. Same as you, when it’s time to come home, you have to come back.

Isabelle: OK…

Daddy: So, if Nong Fok wants to go home, can you cry?

Isabelle: Can.

LOL! Hubby almost lost his patience as he’s been repeating this over and over again with Isabelle. So, in the end…

Daddy: Ok, repeat what daddy say.

Isabelle: Ok.

Daddy: I cannot cry when Fok goes home.

Isabelle: I can cry. *I was laughing like hell hearing this…really beh tahan*

Daddy: No, repeat what I say.

Isabelle: No, repeat what I say. *Mommy’s laughing like siao lang liao*

Daddy: No, say this…

Isabelle: No, say this…

Daddy: Ok ok stop, follow me.

Isabelle: Follow me.

I tell you, it was so funny. She just repeated whatever daddy say. LOL! That’s why it’s very kek hei lecturing her, but at the same time, it’s so hilarious! Hubby could not help but laughed too. Isabelle was puzzled but she laughed along. LOL!

Daddy: Ok, say…I won’t cry when Fok goes home.

Isabelle: Ok say I won’t cry when Fok goes home. (almost got it this time!)

Daddy: Ok, I will ask you again 10 minutes later to make sure that you remember.

10 minutes past…

Daddy: Will you cry if Fok goes home?

Isabelle: Ya.

Hubby almost kek sei but he laughed as well. Just imagine he had to start the whole process again. LOL! That’s why I have to walk away to cool off after a few rounds, and let daddy take over the job of lecturing his princess.

Daddy hugged Isabelle after a long “talk”. She had finally got the idea!

After that long talk, she didn’t fuss when her friends go home, thus she really learned the lesson! Best of all, there was no hand mark on her b*tt.

Parenting…it’s challenging, but it’s fun.