We modern parents are advised to have a dialogue with our children instead of castigating them.
I have many more in my quiet-but-effective discipline arsenal, but since my word count is limited, I will leave it at that.
“Mum, nini?” My two-and-some-months-year-old protested when I gave him “the look.” It was the first time he was reacting to one of my many legendary looks, and it told me that my youngest, my retirement child, had finally come of age in terms of deciphering my non-verbal cues. I have never felt such a sense of accomplishment.
At the time of the admonition, he was precariously balanced on an arm chair, gleefully switching the light on and off. I had, on two occasions, told him to stop playing with the switch, but clearly, it had fallen on deaf ears. It was therefore time to switch to a higher gear.
