If i hear one of my girls say " I CAN'T" again i am going to freak out!!!

I can't find my shoes
I can't put them on
I can't pick up my toys
I can't read a book
I can't eat all my food
...
It is so annoying, yesterday they could put on their owns shoes and today they can't??? !!!!!!!!

Any advice??

<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="" alt="Lilypie 6th to 18th Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>

<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="" alt="Lilypie 3rd Birthday Ticker"

In our house "I Can't" is a bad word! I couldn't take it any longer and I didn't want this habit forming for life. So I told them instead they were allowed to say "I Can Try" and that seems to help some. Not all the time. But if I know they're perfectly capable, then they have to sit there and keep trying until they get it. They hate it!! lol But they eventually get it and then they do that cry/giggle combo like OH Ya, I can do it! lol

Michelle

Tyler 17 1/2 years!!
Steph 15 1/2 years!!
Ayden, Ryley & Dylan 3 1/2 years!!
http://triplethefunplus2.blogspot.com/

Oh, I hate "I can't". So annoying. We've had to threaten spanking for some little phrases. Usually just the threat works and make her stop. The last one she was doing was "I know" after everything we said. It would be "Rylee stop doing that." "I know mom." It got really old.

Sarah

Mom to:
Rylee 7-28-04

36 weekers

Kenzi Adilyn 2-19-08 (6lbs 6oz)
Devyn Elizabeth 2-19-08 (4lbs 12oz)
Caden Jackson 2-19-08 (5lbs 9oz)

I'm surprised my children are even capable of getting out of bed in the morning, because they CAN'T. DO. ANYTHING.

I'd love to give you advice, except I CAN'T. I don't have any.

Michele
Sarah, Gregory, Amanda
born 1/22/04 at 35w1d

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

is it said in three tones: "eye caHHnnnTTTTuhhh!"
cause we got that shizz going on in our place too.


tess
mummy to 6yr old ds & the triumverate born 2004

"the days are slow but the years fly by quickly"

This made me remember - I used to tell my older kids - You don't HAVE to, you GET to.

oh, must be the age!!! I've been hearing this alot recently for stuff they've been doing for the past year or more! We chant alot of I think I can, I think I can...

Mary

born 12/12/04 33w2d

Boy, y'all are a lot nicer than me!

A while back, my kids started telling me that they couldn't put their shoes on (which they have been doing for ages). I finally just started leaving them. Told them that they couldn't come out of the house until they had their shoes on, and Mommy was going. "OK, everyone who has their shoes on, let's go!" Usually 2 kids get up, and the other two start frantically shoving their feet in their shoes. I have actually backed out the driveway once with Meredith screaming "wait, wait". (I was kind enough to let her get in the van and go with us.)

Another one of my meanie mom favorites is to take away a reward. "I wish we had time to watch a movie while we drive to school, but we don't because you didn't xxxx." "I was hoping we could go get ice cream, but you guys took so long doing xxx that we don't have time now."

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

Wow, I'm all for strict, but isn't that a bit harsh? That seems a bit traumatizing for such a young child that doesn't understand you won't really leave.

I tell my kids I'm leaving, but I never leave and never plan to. I open the door and that's enough to get butts in gear and doing what needs done.


Michelle

Tyler 17 1/2 years!!
Steph 15 1/2 years!!
Ayden, Ryley & Dylan 3 1/2 years!!
http://triplethefunplus2.blogspot.com/

>Wow, I'm all for strict, but isn't that a bit harsh? That
>seems a bit traumatizing for such a young child that doesn't
>understand you won't really leave.
>
>I tell my kids I'm leaving, but I never leave and never plan
>to. I open the door and that's enough to get butts in gear and
>doing what needs done.
>

What can I say, I'm a horrible mom whose goal is to traumatize her children.

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

Ugh!!

I do the "you have to try" bit. And when it is obivious they are being lazy I tell them that they will have to stay home by themselves with the cats. As it is usually them telling me they can't get dressed or put their shoes on, etc.

If they tell me they can't put their toys I way and clean up. Then I tell them they CAN'T have the toy anymore and I will have to throw it away.

This usually gets them in gear.

Amy
Wife to Jason(pixelpusher)
Mom to Gwynne, Connor, Chloe 11/03/03
25wks 1day

www.ferristrio.blogspot.com

http://lilypie.com>

One of my boys doesn't say I can't. He says "My arms are too little."

It was cute a few times, but now it's annoying.

One of my other boys always says he's too tired rather than I can't. We usually tell him if he's too tired to do what we ask him to do than he's too tired to do such and such fun thing that he's looking forward to.

Kristen