Turn Rules Upside Down
Jan 29, 2025
Who makes the rules in your house, and who is supposed to follow them?
Turn Rules Upside Down - With kids, most of the time, we think of rules as a line in the sand we set, and they follow. In theory, the rule inspires them to take action, make good choices, etc.
But is that how it really goes down? Kids are programmed to break the rules and test, so ultimately, setting a rule is really creating a task for ourselves - the task of enforcing the rule.
Turn Rules Upside Down
So what if we think of rules that way from the beginning?
What if every rule you set is a rule for YOURSELF?
The rule that we don’t throw balls in the house becomes a rule that when a ball sails through the living room, I calmly put that ball in toy purgatory.
The rule that we have polite table manners becomes a rule that when people are rude at the table, I dismiss them from the meal.
The rule that kids must complete homework before screentime becomes a rule that I hold onto the WIFI password and remote until homework is done.
When we look at things this way, when things are off the rails in our homes, it’s because WE, not our kids, are not following the rules we have set for ourselves. And when we start to follow our own rules again, things change quickly!
Controlling our Kids?
Trying to control how somebody else shows up in the world always backfires, so when our parenting is about controlling our kids, things get very messy. But when we turn the idea of rules on its head, our rules become enforceable, we step into leadership in our families, and we take responsibility for the energy and circumstances around us. The result is a calm, empowered, patient, and effective parent. Magic.
Ready to prove it to yourself?
Try my rules flip-flop idea for a week and see what happens! And when the effectiveness of my genius totally blows you away, set up a free Discovery Call with me and start to uncover what further gems I have waiting for you ;)
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