Hello All--
Like so many of you, we have locks on things that we'd never thought we'd need to lock (like the pantry door) and if that's not bad enough, we now have a home surveillance system--complete with a DVR that is capable of recording four camera views at once in real-time--which we installed two months ago on the advice of one of the counselors at psychiatric hospital. I tell you, I felt like such a freak installing a surveillance system to keep an eye on my own child!--but the woman explained that it would put an end to the sibling controversies (You know--You're always taking his side! I didn't do it! You never believe me! He started it! etc etc etc).
So the first few things that we caught on tape were difficult child hitting her brother, kicking him, throwing things at him--and we've been able to discipline her for those actions (and her brother now feels safer about telling on her for this sort of thing--he knows he won't get it worse for being a "snitch"). So that's been a big deal right there.
Last night, DS discovered that some of his things were missing--and accused difficult child of taking them...which set her off completely. Yelling. Screaming. Throwing things. Smashing things. How DARE you accuse me of stealing!!! And yet, we were able to rewind the recording, and there she was, plain as day, going into his room and helping herself to his stuff.
And faced with irrefutable evidence--we were able to quash difficult child's convoluted stories about how it couldn't have been her. We made her return the items and removed her mp3 player and radio as a consequence.
AND because we did not have to choose to believe one child over another--husband and I did not have to feel one iota of guilt over the whole situation.
I have to admit, I now feel a little bit smart for having a home surveillance system.
--DaisyF
Like so many of you, we have locks on things that we'd never thought we'd need to lock (like the pantry door) and if that's not bad enough, we now have a home surveillance system--complete with a DVR that is capable of recording four camera views at once in real-time--which we installed two months ago on the advice of one of the counselors at psychiatric hospital. I tell you, I felt like such a freak installing a surveillance system to keep an eye on my own child!--but the woman explained that it would put an end to the sibling controversies (You know--You're always taking his side! I didn't do it! You never believe me! He started it! etc etc etc).
So the first few things that we caught on tape were difficult child hitting her brother, kicking him, throwing things at him--and we've been able to discipline her for those actions (and her brother now feels safer about telling on her for this sort of thing--he knows he won't get it worse for being a "snitch"). So that's been a big deal right there.
Last night, DS discovered that some of his things were missing--and accused difficult child of taking them...which set her off completely. Yelling. Screaming. Throwing things. Smashing things. How DARE you accuse me of stealing!!! And yet, we were able to rewind the recording, and there she was, plain as day, going into his room and helping herself to his stuff.
And faced with irrefutable evidence--we were able to quash difficult child's convoluted stories about how it couldn't have been her. We made her return the items and removed her mp3 player and radio as a consequence.
AND because we did not have to choose to believe one child over another--husband and I did not have to feel one iota of guilt over the whole situation.
I have to admit, I now feel a little bit smart for having a home surveillance system.
--DaisyF