School Application

Hmmm.....so today I am completing a school application. We would like for Sophie to attend a lovely school close to our home and we're currently going through the steps of the application process. We attended the parent interview yesterday ~ check. Next step....actual paper application. Easy enough. Except for this question:

WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO DISCIPLINE?

Um, come again.

WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO DISCIPLINE?

Okay, so I've been mulling this one over for quite some time and I've come up with the below responses. Which do you think is best? Or maybe most appropriate?

*** Could you define discipline?

*** Discipline? What's that?

*** Would welcome your suggestions.

*** Don't you handle that at school?

*** SCREAM AS LOUD AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

*** Dad leaves it to Mom. Mom leaves it to Dad.

*** I don't understand English.

*** FEAR

*** Red Wine

*** I break a toy each time she misbehaves.

*** I am pretending like I don't see this question.

I guess I've never spent much time dwelling on my approach to discipline, or rather how to describe to someone else my approach to discipline. You see, my secret confession is that I don't really buy into all that "Time Out" silliness or "talking down to their level" business. I'm sure it works for other people (and maybe well) but it's just not my gig. I do what I do and I guess I have no idea what it's called or how to put it into words. Some days I do a good job of disciplining my daughter. Other days I am sure I fail miserably. SO, at the end of the day, all I do know is this......

I do what I have to do in order to survive each day without completely ruining my daughter. I try not to call her names. I don't tell her she's a brat or that she's acting like a baby. I try to focus on how she should be acting rather than concentrating on what she did wrong. I try to provide structure but also fun, joy, independence and creativity. I talk to her like a person. I AM NEVER CONDESCENDING. I don't use baby voices. Do I threaten? Well yes, sometimes, but any parent would be lying if they say they don't. I'm trying my best to teach her about consequences.....you know, "if you can't act properly in a restaurant, we won't be able to go out for breakfast", etc. I could go on and on.....is there an actual name or term for this approach to discipline?

So I'll have to keep thinking this one over and come up with a reasonable "answer" to this question. There's a lot hinging on my response after all.....