Focus50
Posts: 3962
Joined: 12/28/2004 From: Newcastle, Australia Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Wisdomseeker Have you ever seen a parent tell their child not to do something, then watched the child look right at them and do it anyways? In the last relationship I was in, my kitten had come from a string of horrendously abusive relationships and therefore equated being beaten savagely with being loved. I didn't realize this at first, and just thought she was causing trouble for troubles sake. I work from home, so I was always around her, but I still needed my space to work effectively (because I CAN'T get any work done with her wigglin' around). I spoke to her about this and laid out the rules (9am-1pm work time, hour break, 2pm-4pm work, then off for the rest of the day)and the penalty for breaking them (spanking with various implements, corner time etc), and thought everything would be fine. The next day she KEPT coming into my office for no reason, but I screwed up, because I didn't keep to my own rules. Because of this she just escalated her misbehavior until the next day while I was working she jimmied the door open, sauntered in, unplugged my pc and ran off. This made me livid beyond livid and it took all I had not to go past my own rules when disciplining her. I told a friend my situation and he suggested "Maintenance Discipline", essentially discipline for the sake of discipline, so that things don't get out of hand. It worked 110%, and instantly fixed my situation. Routine is important, since it gives a sense of solidarity, so the maintenance was always at the same time. Hopefully this helps someone like it did me. Three things come to mind, to me. First, I'd never reward misbehaviour from my girl with the giving of my attention - beyond banishing her from my sight. Second, my sense of justice wouldn't permit this "Maintenance Discipline", because that's getting into the murky area of abuse. All things are earned, including being punished. Third, if it has fixed your problem to your satisfaction, then I can't and won't argue with that. But I also can't help but think that she's manipulated your new found respite. Things that keep me awake at nights.... You don't really cure an oil leak by no longer topping up the oil - you just get a bigger problem later.... Others suggest she needs therapy. Certainly, she pushes because she can, AND it gets an obviously desired result. Without being there, I don't know what the best solution is - but I really don't like being manipulated. (read: managed) That's just not on! Focus.
< Message edited by Focus50 -- 3/24/2012 10:15:14 PM >
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Never underestimate the persuasive power of stupid people in large groups. <unknown> Your food is for eating, not torturing. <my mum> (Errm, when I was a kid)
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