Learning disciple all over again

by Carlos

Well I learned something new this week that I quickly put to some good use.
My daughter, Damai, is 4 yrs old and will be 5 yrs old soon. Unfortunately, she still sucks her thumb and fingers and she loves it. We looked at putting an apparatus into her mouth but decided upon a program that an orthodontist recommended to us. I prayed (and am still) a lot on this because he's charging what seems a lot for no product. We're basically paying to stop Damai's habit, which, if this works, will be more than worth it.
Anyway, talking to him about the program made me really nervous. Damai has a few prizes to win if she completely stops sucking her fingers. But just one digit in the mouth means no prize. The prizes are set apart by a couple of weeks and she REALLY wants them. She also gets a star for everyday that she doesn't suck.
I just couldn't believe that one finger in her mouth for just one moment would cost her a prize. And the first day, that's exactly what happened. She sucked for a quick moment and that was it. She totally cried over losing her first prize. She even went herself to Goodwill to give it away.
I was just trying to hold on. Things weren't looking too good.
But the next day, Damai didn't suck her thumb or fingers at all. I was really amazed.
SO, last week I wrote about Anna not going to sleep when I put her down. I had to try this new approach.
It was nap time and I told her if you're not using your pillow (meaning lying down) then you don't get to have it. I walked out and heard some noises coming from her room a few moments later. When I opened the door, she was standing on her bed. I couldn't believe I was about to follow through with my threat. Oh how she did cry, when I put her pillow away!
I held her for about 40 minutes and kept explaining that I didn't want to do that, but it was because of her action. I finally put her back in her bed and told her that if she doesn't use her blanket (meaning lying down), I'd have to take that, too. For sure, she wasn't going to lose her blanket, she loves it too much. I wouldn't have to take that away.
But that 2 yr old is so prideful!
She challenged again and I had to take her blanket. She literally cried herself to sleep, she was so upset. She was asleep and still whimpering with her face in the bed. I pushed her over on her side because I didn't want to chance her suffocating. It's a good thing she fell asleep because I'm not sure if there was anything else of value to her that I could have taken next.
Anyway, that night, she went right to bed. I just had to tell her to use her pillow and blanket. It's been smooth sailing ever since.
I thought I understood discipline. But I'm glad for the lesson.