a parent's four-legged ally

[sistawendy]

Nibs & I have been riding the Wendling for years to put his stuff away, as do most parents. One of the items we're long since tired of picking up in various places around the house is his retainers. You know, the ones that go in his mouth.

Enter Bigpuppy. She chewed both his retainers into sharp bits yesterday; we're hoping she didn't swallow any. The replacement cost is coming out of m'boy's Bar Mitzvah money.

If he learns anything from this, Bigpuppy should work out better than I ever imagined. If he can't get it together, though, our adoption trial period ends and Bigpuppy goes back to Motley Zoo. Doing otherwise could endanger the dog.

Comments

[fizzgig-bites.livejournal.com]

Ooo..tough love.

One thing that might help in your situation is something we have done. There is a pacifier keeper that has a cute little stuffed animal clip and a pacifier clip. The stuffed animal clips to the shirt and the paci clip goes to the paci. Remove the six inch ribbon that holds it together and put on one that is a foot and a half long. Make him wear it until her learns to control where his retainer is. If not, he will have to go through the humiliation of have a baby's paci keeper. The threat alone will scare him straight.

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's hardcore! I like it. I'll discuss with Nibs.

[savannarama.livejournal.com]

I do think giving him the tools with which to take care of his stuff is helpful, and shows him there is strategy involved, not just 1) virtue or 2) having a perfect memory (both of which could cause almost anyone to give up, at times). People need little tricks to help them along, and there is nothing wrong with that . . .

[savannarama.livejournal.com]

(Although I don't know what I think of the pacifier container specifically as a tool. If he ends up actually having to wear it, like, in public . . . it might be so embarrassing even a parent backs down out of fear of warping the kid and then you're back at square one).

[mahariel.livejournal.com]

Heh - we'll see if it works. So far, having a couple of her toys broken and thrown out hasn't increased the munchkin's tendency to pick up.

I do like the pacifier idea.

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

Well, m'boy's 13 now. He has more of an attention span & memory than your munchkin.