Okay, so today I wanted to figure out the whole “punishment versus reprimand” thing. It sounded kinda formal and boring, but I figured it’s something I should probably understand better, especially with the kids getting older.
I started by, you know, just thinking about it. Like, when do I actually use these two words? “Punishment” feels big, like grounding or taking away video games. “Reprimand” feels more like a stern talking-to.
So, I grabbed a notebook and a pen – yeah, I’m old school like that. I made two columns: one for “Punishment” and one for “Reprimands.”
My Little Experiment
- Punishment Column: I started listing things that felt like punishments. Time-outs, taking away toys, no dessert – that kind of stuff. It all seemed pretty action-oriented, like I was actively doing something to correct the behavior.
- Reprimand Column: This one was trickier. I wrote down things like “raising my voice,” “giving a disapproving look,” and “explaining why the behavior was wrong.” These were more about communication, about expressing my disapproval verbally or even non-verbally.
Then the trail, to put this into practice,I observed my own interactions for the rest of the day. It was kinda awkward at first, like I was watching myself in a movie. But I started to notice patterns.
- Little things, like my son leaving his shoes in the middle of the floor, usually got a reprimand. “Hey buddy, shoes go on the shoe rack, remember?”
- Bigger things, like him hitting his sister, led to a punishment – usually a time-out. “We don’t hit. Time-out in your room.”
What result I got.
It became pretty clear: punishments were for the bigger, more serious rule-breaking. Reprimands were for the smaller stuff, the reminders, the “hey, don’t do that” moments.
I’m no expert, but this little exercise helped me be more mindful of how I’m reacting to things. It’s not about being perfect, but about trying to be more consistent and, hopefully, more effective. I even jotted down some notes about what seemed to work and what didn’t, so I can keep tweaking my approach.
It’s like an experiment in how I parent, I’m making it up as I go!
