My son put me in the naughty chair today - he is 3
By makingpots
@makingpots (11915)
United States
May 21, 2008 10:05pm CST
I was laughing so hard that I got a stitch in my side.... mostly from trying to hold in my laughter. He was so serious and I had to go along with him.
The naughty chair is not something we use often around our house. It is what we use when my son chooses to do something that he is fully aware is off limits because he has been told repeatedly. It is like our way to tell him, you need a few minutes to think about your choices.
Today he walked in and caught me doing something that I tell him not to do ALL THE TIME. With complete sincerity and one hand on a hip, he points with the other hand and says, "Mommy, naughty chair, NOW!" I just bowed my head and did as I was told.
Thank goodness he is not aware of the rule of thumb for time out parenting, which is one minute for every year of life. I didn't have 40 some odd minutes to sit while my son wanted me to think about it. 
12 people like this
23 responses
@vicneedscoffee (1259)
• United States
22 May 08
That is so funny! I used the time-out when my daughter was young and she gave me one once for cussing...lol. It can be really hard to keep a straight face in those situations. Kudos to you for going to the naughty chair instead of saying "do as I say, not as I do."
4 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
22 May 08
Thanks for the kudos.
It was the hardest straight face I have had to keep in a while. Lol
3 people like this
@mummymo (23706)
•
22 May 08
LOL I can just see this in my minds eye sweetheart! And I bet he was so serious - I have to find a way to let him know one minute for every year rule - now THAT would be fun! lol At least you know he understands what you are trying to achieve with the naughty chair! Now for the big question - what on earth were you doing to deserve the naughty chair? lol Hugs xxxx
3 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
22 May 08
Well, it had to do with standing in a chair to reach a cabinet.
Climbing on furniture is a bit of an issue around our house at the moment. Five seconds to go get the step ladder and I would have been in the clear, but the chair was RIGHT THERE.
4 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
23 May 08
I'm a slow learner. but I think I've learned my lesson on this one.
2 people like this
@beutfulmama6701 (1718)
• United States
22 May 08
That is such an adorable story!! arent kids the cutest?? my daughter now 6 used to put me in the corner all the time when she was around that age. And always for doing something i made it clear to her she couldnt do as well. LOL i guess my husband was right wen he told me Practice what you preach... whats good for the goose is good for the gander... lol
2 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
23 May 08
that is exactly what I kept saying to myself while I sat in the naughty chair trying to hold in my laughter..... "practice what you preach".
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
22 May 08
I'm not even going to ask what you did you naughty girl! LOL
But you should be so proud that your little man really understands the meaning of the chair, discipline and following through. He will make a great parent himself one day, which means YOU have done and are doing your job well!
You can get out of the chair now! ROFL
2 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
22 May 08
*tear in my eye*
Thanks, spark. Those I the nicest words a person can say to me.
4 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
22 May 08
You keep crying over nothing young lady and back to the chair you go!
LOL
2 people like this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
23 May 08
ha ha your son is a cutie. he was goingto make momplay by the rules and he sure did didn't her. yep forty minutes when
you have a three year old is way too much.lol I applaud
your method though it sure beats this stupid spanking
that so many people swear by. I think the only good that'does
is teach youngsters that its okay to hit and hurt someone.
That was not for me;I raised my own son much as You are'
doing and he turned out to be a fine young man, now of course
he is not so young. He will be fifty on his birthday.
2 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
28 May 08
we are in total agreement on spanking, Hatley.
1 person likes this
@Remembering1996 (2219)
• United States
23 May 08
That is too funny I would have had a hard time trying to control not laughing out loud. I can see where you laughed inside til it hurt. I haven't done that one w/ my son when he was your son's age but he never did anything like that either by telling me I had a time out for being naughty That is cute though take care.
2 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
28 May 08
He keeps me laughing. It is very fun.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169477)
• United States
22 May 08
That is funny, and it is good that you put yourself under the same rules. It would be confusing if you told him that the rules are different for grown ups.
2 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
22 May 08
Yes, I remember that confusion as a child very well.
2 people like this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
22 May 08
Oh that is just so hillarious. I can just picture a 3 year old with his hands on his hips, saying that. That is so funny! and I hope you learnt your lesson! hehe
@twallace (2675)
• United States
22 May 08
You did right; he called you out and you had to go to the naughty chair. If yo had done anything different it would change everything that you have got set in him right now. So now you have to make sure that you don't do it again. Little people pay attention to everything going on around them too. so you did right; and he can't see you laugh when he called you out. You had t hold it in. Good Job MOM!!!!
2 people like this
@vera5d (4004)
• United States
22 May 08
my husband put me in time out yesterday, it was wonderful! the kids weren't allowed to talk to me and i wasn't allowed to talk to them!
I'd like to be in time out more often!
@cortjo73 (6498)
• United States
22 May 08
LOL! That is cute! I would have laughed myself right off the Naughty Chair! LOL! And, at least he knows the rule really well and thinks highly enough of it to have been disappointed that you broke your own rule. He has already begun to learn integrity! Well done as a Mommy! Keep up the good work! And, you enforced that integrity by showing him that rules aren't meant to be broken by some while others have to abide by them, by taking your punishment like you would have made him take it. Well done again!
2 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
22 May 08
It was VERY hard to keep a straight face. It has occurred to me that obviously this naughty chair thing is working for him. Thanks.
1 person likes this
@lttlmischievious (126)
• United States
22 May 08
And we are role models for our children. This is just too darn funny. I laughed so hard I had tears coming to my eyes. Kids do and say the darnedest things. It is good that he is learning from things he has done, and yes mom you should take your punishment as well. Kudos to the little guy fro correcting you, on something he was told not to do. You just gotta love em...
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
23 May 08
I had tears streaming down my face as a told my husband about it later that night. Yes, you gotta love em.
2 people like this
@mjmlagat (3170)
• Philippines
22 May 08
It's really so funny sometimes that parents are given by their kids a doze of their own medicine..hehe.
That is why as parents, we need to be cautious with what we're teaching them. Most importantly, we need to be role models to them.
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
22 May 08
Yes. I try to take my responsiblity as role model for my kid very serious. I slipped up and got caught. 
3 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
22 May 08
It is such a cute age. I am loving it.
1 person likes this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
23 May 08
lol...I remember my older son did the same to me when he was 4 and I did sit in the chair and like your son he didn't know the thumb rule. I enjoyed it:)
But with my 17 month old, I can already see that he would never sit in that naughty chair let alone ask me to sit.
He has a mind of his own and I think the naughty chair/naughty corner will not work for him. Too bad...I would have liked to be sent to the 'naughty chair' by my kids just one more time!
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
28 May 08
I hear you, SViswan, it won't work for all kids. Honestly, it is not something that works for my son when he is really spun up and acting out.
1 person likes this
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
28 May 08
Hi makingpots! Oh that is so funny! How I wish I was there to see you being put in that naughty chair by your 3 year old! Oh, he is a very smart young boy who knows what is right and wrong and he remembers! haha..So be good from now on makingpots! haha..I am so glad you obeyed him and sat on that chair! Good girl! 
Take Care and God Bless! Celebrate Life! 
Take Care and God Bless! Celebrate Life! 1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
28 May 08
Thanks, faith. I sure hope this is a sign that he understands right and wrong.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
28 May 08
Ohmigoodness, roanne, that is one of the sweetest things to say.
1 person likes this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
28 May 08
Good for him!! He is one smart cookie!! LOL. I think that is hysterical. He gets it. He knows if you are bad, you go there. You had better watch out, he is sharp as a tack!!! LOL
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
28 May 08
Yes he sure is, nanajanet. The other day he was in the garage with his daddy who was doing something with real tools that I don't let him do with his toy tools and he told my husband, "That won't make Mommy happy." I laughed first but then thought, now wait a minute, why didn't daddy have to go to the naughty chair.
1 person likes this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
29 May 08
Aha, the guys backing each other thing is starting already! LOL
Too bad you could not have gotten that on video. It would have been a hoot to save.
Give him lots of hugs and kisses, he sounds quite special.
1 person likes this
