The first 3 years of life are the prime time to build a foundation in your child. This is the critical time in their lives when they need to learn discipline, routine, and have structure. I started time outs with my girls when they were each 1 year old. People would say, "But, she doesn't KNOW what you are doing." I would reply, "Maybe she does, maybe she doesn't, but one of these times she WILL and by then this will be our discipline routine." I did not wait until I was sure they were old enough to understand right from wrong, I began instilling it as early as I possibly could. One year old equalled 1 minute in time out. It was enough to break the cycle of whatever the child was doing. It was enough to start the pattern and routine of using time outs as our discipline. It was enough. My girls can be taken out to dinner at very nice restaurants and know how to behave. I have actually had wait staff compliment my children's behavior, and one even said to me, "It is a testament to the parenting they are receiving, because they are the best behaved, most polite children I have ever had THE PLEASURE of serving."
Are my kids perfect, far from it. They fight like sisters will, they complain when they are tired, or bored, or hot. They have selective hearing at times, and need to be corrected just like any other kid on the planet. But they have a solid basic foundation of expected behavior, and more than anything in the world, they have my heart, soul, and complete devotion. I love them more than words can ever capture, and they know it in their hearts and minds. It is my duty, my obligation, to raise them to the best of my ability. It is my obligation to teach them how to make good choices, how to deal with the ups and downs of life, to reach out my hand when they stumble, to make sure they always know, when they fall, I am there to help them up, and cheer them on....it is my obligation, my duty, and most of all, my undying honor.
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