I am the first to say I do not like being the disciplinarian. 

In my own perfect world, my little girl and I could be best friends and live happily ever after, shopping together and having a great time. Reality is, I am a single mom and it is imperative that I discipline her.

Lately, she has required a lot of correction so there have been a lot of un-fun nights. I was warned by other moms about age 4 and how that is the age where children learn how to manipulate. To make matters worse, my daughter is very stubborn, (which my parents say she got from me and this is my way of paying for my raising.) I have tried very hard to explain situations to my daughter and how she is responsible for her own actions and I am pretty sure she does understand for the most part.

The answer I am still seeking is, “Which is the punishment that will work for her?” I have asked several seasoned moms about this and have gleaned several great ideas and tips. The best part has been learning that I am not the bad mom I thought I was. All of these other moms have been there too. One of my very close friends even reminded me of a scripture from the Bible that made me cry…and made me feel better instantly:

He who with holds his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently. Proverbs 13:24(New American Standard Bible)

In the role of single mom, that scripture is especially important to me, because my daughter spends most of her time with me so I feel the responsibility to ensure she grows up to be a well-respected, sweet woman. That keeps me going when I feel discouraged that I am always the bad guy in my house. It is also comforting to know that whatever feeling we may be having as a mom, there is someone who is probably sharing that as well.

What tips do you have for disciplining children that have worked for you?