Learning to Cut Losses

In our continuing attempts to instill some semblance of table manners into the kids, the Wife and I have been using “penalty minutes.” Basically, a violation of our etiquette rules results in 15 minutes subtracted from there bed time.

Our efforts worked initially, but over time our discipline slips a bit. Naturally, the kids discipline follows.

So tonight at dinner when the boy violated one of the rules, I asked the Wife “What’s the penalty for rudeness at the dinner table again, Mom?”

“I believe it’s 15 minutes off the offender’s bedtime,” she replied.

“Huh? I thought it was 10!” the boy blurted, somewhat incredulous.

“It could be 20,” I told him.

He didn’t argue it any further.

There were no further violations either.