Last night during Family Home Evening, Matthew was looking through a sticker book while we had our scriptures out reading the Articles of Faith. Well, he started tearing the stickers out and throwing them on the floor. I asked him to pick them up in my nicest voice (I didn't want the sweet spirit that was there to leave) and his immediate answer was "NO". Of course. After asking a few more times I asked him if he wanted a spank, and received the same reply. His answer didn't change when he was asked to pick them up again and he received a swat on the diaper. No response. We went through the exchange again, I think eight or nine times except the only change in response was that Matt would laugh after each spank. I'm talking belly laugh here. Everyone was laughing. What is going on? Isn't my two year old supposed to be scared of Mommy when she is upset, or at least sad to be getting spanked? I guess I am not as scary as I thought I was or am way too soft on my number 4.

Courtney saved the evening and volunteered to help him pick of the sticker pieces. Matt helped her without question. I am grateful to her for being a peacemaker....but now I realize that I need a new strategy for getting Matt to do anything. Suggestions??!!