When you discipline with a positive focus, you reduce stress, build trust, avoid conflicts, and increase satisfaction and contentment. Often, creative thinking may be needed in order to achieve these benefits. Such was the case when a mother and young girl were walking the family dog.
The young girl was approximately 5 years old and weighted maybe 45 pounds. The dog being walked was a large mixed breed that probably weighed about 70 pounds. The young girl desperately wanted to be the one walking the dog. While the dog was gentle and loving, the mother knew that one strong tug from the dog and the child would get pulled down and possibly hurt.
No matter how the mother tried to explain the situation and why the youngster could not walk the dog, the child persisted. Finally, the mother had an idea. She attached a second leash to the dog’s collar and had the girl hold it. Now there was one dog with two leashes—one being held by the mother and the other by the girl.
The result? The child was happy that she got to do a “big person” task of walking the dog. And the mother kept control of the dog with the other leash.
Sometimes a little creativity goes a long way.
