Bum

Today Payton's been scratching at her bum all day, so being the attentive mother that I am I thought that I should take a peak at it while I was helping her wipe. As I somewhat expected, her bottom was a little pink, I'm thinking that maybe she's missed a wipe or two recently. I said somewhat rhetorically, "Your bums a little red?" She quickly and happily responds, "It's because you've been spanking me so much." She then grins and goes on her merry way to her nap. I was about to explode laughing. She wasn't mean, or scared or anything. She was just matter of fact, like, duh, of course it is! Honestly, the red on her bottom has nothing to do with spanking, and everything to do with 3 year old hygiene.
As I mentioned before, Payton is currently experiencing the terrible three's, after being a delightful baby and a pretty good toddler. I'm usually somewhat of a softy mom, I try to talk and explain with loads of time outs, but I haven't been feeling like any progress is being made. So, two days ago, I decided to try out a no tolerance approach. I am not coddling any more. I tell her no, or stop and offer the consequence of a spank, and a trip to her room. If she continues, I follow through with whichever was offered as consequence. I know that no one believes in spanking anymore. I'm sure that if all my mom friends read this I'd be dis-momed, but I am trying to raise a bull headed child here and it seemed to work out for my own parents so I'm giving it a shot. I still love my parents, and they still love me. Payton, at this point, seems to still love me and still loves to hug, kiss and snuggle me. She's by no means afraid of me, except when I'm mad about something she's done or is doing. Ya know what, that's a good time to be afraid.