The other critical consideration in this part of your plan is enforcement. The rule "I brought you into this world…and I can take you out" talks about the difference between punishment and teaching and when each might be most effective. This part of the plan absolutely must be set up and communicated from the beginning, not thrown in helter-skelter as rules are broken.
That point leads to the last of the Three R’s -- routine. Kids feel safe when they have a routine they can count on. They feel safe and loved when the rules are always the same and always enforced. The job of a good mean mom is to be on top of those rules every day and enforce them consistently no matter what.
This R is sometimes the hardest to stay on top of. Two rules will help. "I’m going to be the perfect mom... yeah right" emphasizes the need to have and use a support network. Being a mom is the toughest job out there and it never ends. "I get to be President of the Mean Moms Club" gives you the strength to stay on top of the plan even in the face of tantrums and tears and “I hate you!”
It’s up to us as good mean moms to help kids understand what they need vs. what they want, learn to take responsibility for the things they can do, and to create and reinforce a routine they can count on as they transition from the freedom of summer to the structure of the new school year. Back to school can be a smooth transition for kids and parents if you just follow the Three R’s: Reality, Responsibility, and Routine.
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