{"id":16757,"date":"2025-05-26T20:00:32","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T03:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lauradoyle.org\/blog\/?p=16757"},"modified":"2025-05-26T20:57:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T03:57:32","slug":"my-kids-dont-respect-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lauradoyle.org\/blog\/my-kids-dont-respect-me\/","title":{"rendered":"My Kids Don’t Respect Me"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s talk about what to do when your kids don\u2019t respect you. Which, first of all, I don\u2019t know anything about.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sure how this topic got approved for the blog because I don\u2019t even have kids to disrespect me!<\/p>\n

This could be a really short post because my imaginary kids that I don\u2019t have already respect me so much.<\/p>\n

Except when I want them to do something in a hurry and I yell at them. Or when I force them to get dressed when they don\u2019t want to get dressed, or drop them off at gymnastics camp when they don\u2019t want to go to gymnastics camp, but I make them go in crying every day for a week because I already paid for it and I have work to do!<\/p>\n

Okay, those weren\u2019t my kids. Those were my sister\u2019s kids that I was watching one summer.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m lucky my niece still talks to me after that gymnastics camp incident.<\/p>\n

\"signs<\/p>\n

So I know what it\u2019s like to be disrespected by exceedingly short people and it is soooo frustrating because, first of all, some people are so small I can just pick them up and drop them on the bed while they giggle relentlessly like bedtime is some big game instead of the end of my childcare shift that can\u2019t come fast enough.<\/p>\n

Often these kids are NOT able to pick me up and take me anywhere at all. They are weaklings. In many cases, and I won\u2019t name names here, these kids can\u2019t even tie their own shoes. So clearly I am in charge of them\u2014the boss\u2014and everyone knows you have to respect your boss.<\/p>\n

Everyone but kids, that is.<\/p>\n

Those slippery kids just do their own thing, way past bedtime. It\u2019s like they don\u2019t even know how to tell time.<\/p>\n

But food has to be consumed, bodies have to be washed, pajamas have to get on, teeth have to get brushed, stories have to be read and lights have to be turned off. And kids don\u2019t seem to respect my authority about these things.<\/p>\n

Nagging, begging, pleading, or even bribing them do not work very well. I did have limited success with using Raisinette candies to get my niece out of the pool, but I\u2019m not especially proud of that.<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t make them obedient, which can be very stressful.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

I wish I\u2019d had these three unconventional ways to get cooperation AND connection with kids long ago.<\/p>\n

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Contents<\/p>\n<\/span><\/div>\n