Yes, Ma'am

I was reading the book The Duggars: 20 and Counting! and enjoying the parenting tidbits, especially on obedience.

We've been having Teddy respond with "Yes, ma'am" or "Yes, sir" occasionally when we ask him to do something for us, but after this, I decided to enforce it a little more, as Michelle Duggar does to make sure that her children have heard her (to avoid "I forgot" or "I didn't hear you" excuses).

If Teddy doesn't say, "Yes, ma'am," right after I've told him to do something, now I prompt, "Yes, ma'am?" and he says it ... and then picks himself up and goes and does what I've asked with no further drama.  This may not last forever, but it sure is nice to have him just stop (throwing himself on the floor in "despair," whining, screaming (about my making him answer the question, "What are you doing?"—I mean, really?  Is it that hard to say, "I'm playing"?), etc.), but to have him actually stop and obey...it's a bit heady.

I can fake being a good parent even better now!