No Empty Threats

An empty threat is a threat that we never follow through with.

The more we give empty threats the less seriously we are taken by our children and the more power they take from us. 

Give threats, you as a parent, are willing to do. If you aren't willing to cancel your Disneyland trip, don't threaten with that. 

If by mistake it slips out of your mouth, give them an option to earn it back with good behavior.

Who is paying the price?

My mom said the other day, "The person that is the most frustrated is the one paying the price."

If we are the one suffering for our child's actions (every time they make a mess we have to clean it up) we are going to be the short tempered one. If they are paying the price the consequence (they clean up the messes they make) they will be frustrated one and ultimately will be learning from their mistakes (they will be more aware the next time).

Our children need to know their choices have consequences for good and for bad.

What do we throw M&M's at?

Every girl knows what makes their mamma proud. One girl said, "My mom always threw M&M's at me when I performed".
What are we throwing M&M's at? What are we encouraging our kids to pursue? Make sure you are a mamma that is encouraging and praising the BEST things.
Some mom's praise working or accomplishments as the ultimate success. I have a mom that has always thrown M&M's at me when I am being a good person and reaching out for others. She would hug me and smile and made me feel special for my accomplishments of being a dancer, a cheerleader, working through high school, playing on the Lacrosse team, or even graduating from college but she never 'threw M&M's at those things'.
I always knew she was truly happy for me but I have always felt that she is most proud of me when she hears my testimony of my Savior or sees me trying my best in motherhood! And that just feels right! Every child should have a mamma that makes him feel like the world for being Christlike. I believe that is ultimate success.