Burrell, only if you're doing it right.

Is there any way to flip it to a positive reinforcement system? If you get out the door on time, you can have/do x? Over the years this has been the more effective method when CJ needed redirection. Which reminds me that I need to find a way to flip a current problem we are having. Hmmmm...

removing the toys, not at the moment of bad behavior, seems to work somewhat for us.

He acts up and loses computer privileges - it won't work if I reach over and turn off the computer right then (if he is already on) - that always escalates, but I tell him over and over to get off and turn it off, the longer it takes the longer the consequence.......which is, the power cord is gone the next day or he needs a log on to get on. Other variation, toys are gone, put away while he is at school or asleep, do not come out until stated time. TV channels are locked down, sometimes to nothing being visible without a code. Wii controllers are gone, bedroom door is removed, playdates are cancelled. I could go on and on. One thing at a time is all I ever do anymore and I usually only say once what will happen and then always always follow through. Privileges can be earned back, but never 100% once punishments are doled out.

I think we talked about this before... so it's nice to see the bastard went to jail.

Judge Receives Over 17 Year Sentence For Role In ‘Cash For Kids’ Private Prisons Scandal

Former Pennsylvania state judge Michael Conahan was sentenced last Friday to 210 months in prison for his involvement in a scandal to enrich private prison corporations by sentencing juvenile pranksters and other extremely minor offenders to be incarcerated in a corporate-run facility:

Michael Conahan, a former jurist in Luzerne County, was sentenced on Friday to 210 months in custody by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Edwin M. Kosik II. Conahan was also ordered to pay $874,000 in restitution. [...] As Main Justice reported in August, Ciavarella, former president judge of the Court of Common Pleas and former judge of the Juvenile Court for Luzerne County, was sentenced to 28 years in prison and ordered to make restitution of $965,930.

Conahan’s role in the “cash for kids” scheme was to order the closing of a county-run detention center, clearing the way for Ciavarella, once known as a strict “law and order” judge, to send young offenders to private facilities. This arrangement worked out well for Ciavarella and Conahan, as well as the builder of the facilities and a developer, who pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

The arrangement didn’t work out so well for the young offenders, some of them sent away for offenses that were little more than pranks and would have merited probation, or perhaps just scoldings, if the judges had tried to live up to their oaths.

Dan has a log-in here, so he's my notifier, but if we go out at the same time in a horrifying Cuisinart accident, enough of you are on Facebook and have my deets to look up Kansas City, and figure out I am indeedleddo ded.

You're all invited to my funeral, BTW. Get drunk and tell funny stories, mmmmk?

I much prefer the herds of feral cantaloupe idea.

You guys! You guys! Guess what I'm doing tomorrow! GOING TO DISNEYLAND. I am at this very moment eating breakfast at Drew & Kristin's house. Pete and Drew have gone to run some errands. DISNEYLAND TOMORROW. They'd better have my rental agreement for the Haunted Mansion this time.

Apparently my mother suggested a family vacation to Disneyland. My sister demurred in order to keep Micky safe. She thinks my mother would make him cry.

Is there any way to flip it to a positive reinforcement system? If you get out the door on time, you can have/do x?

We use that sometimes, but that leads to more time loss over negotiating the deal than actual doing what needs to be done. "Not one toy, two! And you need to buy it today!" "Uh, no." Unless they are of a mood to cooperate, positive reinforcement doesn't work.

msbelle's suggestion could work. I'll try it. Certainly you've dealt with oppositional behavior, which really is what it comes down to. Isaac is very defiant seemingly just to be defiant.

Lucky you Jilli. The Haunted Mansion was closed last time I was there and I was sadface.

Hey? Can I ask a favor of you since you're in the area? I'd love to meet up and get you to sign Gillian's book for me. (I'm such a bad one about mailing things!)

She thinks my mother would make him cry.

Is your mother prone to terrorizing cartoon characters?

I'm a bit bummed that the Pirates ride is closed for renovation, but that just means I'll go on Haunted Mansion and the teacups more times.