Jewel,
My difficult children put new meaning into the word LAZY!!! Getting them to do anything at all can be a living H-LL!!! They both have chores that they are expected to do daily such as putting away their clean laundry, putting their dirty clothes in the hamper, cleaning up after themselves if they miss the toilet, taking out the trash, getting the newspaper, etc... None of these things take much time or are very difficult. However, just asking difficult child 2 to get the paper can sometimes be enough to send him into a rage. :grrr: difficult child 1 will just flatly refuse to do anything unless I remind him that if he doesn't do his chores, he'll lose "Reward Time" (playing games on his computer). I have to stop myself from taking the easy way out and just doing these things myself.
The bottom line is, my difficult children refuse to do anything unless there is something in it for them!!! :grrr: They are both totally self-centered and believe the world should revolve around them!!! :grrr:
Although some members don't believe in a "Reward" system, this has been the only thing that has helped with my difficult children. They each have a written list of what they are expected to do every day, along with a Daily Schedule. We keep a "Reward" chart on our refrigerator. Living like this is H-LL!!! Unfortunately, my difficult children respond best to schedules, routines, and "Rewards". We try to use natural consequences as much as possible. I wish I had some better advice for you.
I don't think there is a right or wrong approach to getting difficult children to do what is expected of them. I think that whatever works for you is the way to go. Unfortunately, I don't think my difficult children are capable of seeing things from any point of view except their own.
Unfortunately, the natural consequences of not putting on sunscreen is a sunburn. It's a nasty way to have to learn that sunscreen is necessary!!! I hope your difficult child's burn isn't too bad!!! I hope he learns to apply sunscreen after this!!! WFEN
