How do I stop letting small children walk all over me?

Question

I am SUPPOSED to be the authority figure, but I have a major weakness and they exploit it like...like...a radish- wielding Fraggle luring an unsuspecting Gorg! (see: Jim Henson shows)

If the children give me a really cute look or do something adorable I basically fall under their spell and let them off the consequences for slightly bad behavior. The troublemakers I have from ages 3-7 are very little and yet they are so unbearably cute that they emit this Zeek-controlling aura.

Seriously, why must I be so pathetically weak and foolish and let them get away with bad values? How do I build up an immunity to the cuteness aura? Thanks.

Just for fun I'll let you all guess what children's TV show my analogy is based on :)

First person got it right! Right on brotha!

Sista yea!

Answer 1

FRAGGLE ROCK!

Anyway, I'm not sure if there's anything you can do to build an immunity- it will likely just build up over time. Each time they flash you that adorable little smile, just remind yourself that they did something wrong, and it's much more important to teach them values than to reinforce that their looks will get them everything in life. :)

Answer 2

Quit lying on the floor face down & they'll stop walking all over you!!!!
Seriously though start looking at them through the eyes of strangers, dont you ever see naughty kids at the grocery store? Do you look at their bad behavior & think how cute they are? Try to be objective about it, your not helping them prepare for the real world if you facilitate bad behavior even if they are the cuttest kids ever.

P.S. dance your cares away () () worries for another day,
let the fraggles play () () down in fraggle rock!

Answer 3

I have two approaches to suggest:

1. The mental model. Before you go to bed, when you wake up (but before you get out of bed), and before your workday begins... visualise the situation happening. Visualise yourself taking a stand and reacting accordingly. Visualise them giving you the cute look, and visualise yourself holding firm.

When the situation happens for real, and they give you "the look" STOP. Visualise yourself holding firm. Then DO it. Sure, they'll be shocked. Sure, they might cry. But hold firm.


2. The shock model. This one will probably work faster and be more effective. Tape a flat-head thumbtack inside your shoe, just to the side of your big toe.

When your kiddies do the bad, and give you the "look", slap your foot sideways against whatever is nearby... a wall, desk, trashcan, whatever. That sharp little pain that took mere milliseconds to reach your brain from your big toe just did you a big favour. It shocked you out of your normal behaviour pattern (giving in) and gave you a rude awakening to what you want to do (stand firm). Now, stand firm! (and get a band-aid for your toe!)

Answer 4

DEAR
SPANK WASH MOUTH OUT WITH SOAP PUT THEM ON THERE KNEES IN THE CONNER NOSE TO WALL OK
TAKE CARE