Page 101 - The Intentional Parent

talk in five minutes, so save your game and don’t wait for me to come over and turn the game off myself.”
With younger children, do not present your information when they are in the middle of a fit or tantrum. Deal with the tantrum, then have the talk but only when they are calmed down.
With older children, capture their attention when they want something (which is almost anytime they occupy the same space as you do). Say, “I will listen to what you want, but you have to listen to me first.”
Capture the “Soul of Wit”
There is no one on earth who can convince me that “long talks are better than short talks.” Remember we are discussing “talks about behavior,” not a long talk about a National Geographic special, or The Yankees, or any topic which is a shared interest between parents and children. As a matter of fact, if you keep your conversations about behavior short and to the point, your child will appreciate the longer, less tension filled, less emotionally draining talks that typify the types of talks you have when talking about behavior.
Assertive and Aggressive are Two Very Different Approaches
“You are grounded for a month, you disrespectful annoying pain in the ass.”
“You are going to do your homework before you can have your cell phone back.”
The Intentional Parent by Peter J. Favaro, Ph.D. 101