Problem Fixed?

I’ve been alert for examples of anger in baby so I can think through them, but she hasn’t seemed to have any problems over the weekend.

Any time that baby has been angry, I’ve simply said, “No. That’s anger.” Every time I’ve done that, she has stopped the intensity (not necessarily the crying). She hasn’t done anything besides arch her back or cry angrily. I just hold her and don’t let her have what she wants. Telling her to stop and not letting her have her own way seem to be sufficient.

• She wanted more juice, and I told her no. She pushed away the milk and water I gave her.
• She wanted to get down and play during the ten minute close of vacation Bible school. She was very tired, and had I known she wouldn’t want to sit, I would have taken her into the nursery. I ended up taking her out and holding her.
• Several times she has not liked something I have done and said “No mommy.” I tell her, “When mommy says obey, you must not say no.”

That’s all that I remember.

I don’t share any Scripture with her at this point. I do tell her that what she’s doing is anger and that she is angry because she did not get her own way.

If I’m helping her put off “my own way” and put on “mommy’s way,” is spanking necessary? Or is it sufficient to simply not let her have her own way? I’m stopping much of the external manifestations of anger (we do not hit when we are angry), but I do not touch on anger itself, other than to identify it and label it (“we are angry when we do not get our own way.” Later it will be “we think angry thoughts when we do not get our own way.”)

It’s only one step toward teaching about anger. Obviously the lesson is not complete. What do you think? More tomorrow.