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Home » Blog » Cross Your Arms

Cross Your Arms

by Sarah Turner Clover Lane, Family Life, Mothering

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Here’s a little trick I learned from my mom, who most likely learned from her mom, Josephine, mother of nine.

It’s the “cross your arms” trick.

When you have a child who needs to be told something important, or reprimanded, especially one under say about 7, you have them cross their arms.  It does a couple things:

-It makes them look at you and concentrate on what you are saying.

-It makes their mood, somehow-I don’t know how- change.  Usually they get a little giggly.

-It makes them look really really cute, which makes you really really less angry.

I’ve been doing this for years and it works wonders.

The other day, I was trying to get Andrew not to scream whenever his brother teased him.  So I made him cross his arms and said, “Repeat after me.  I, Andrew, will not scream bloody murder whenever my brother Matt teases me. I will go and get Mom instead, and she will help me.”

He said, “Ok, Mom, I have one for you.  Cross your arms and repeat after me.  I, Mom, will buy her children a brand new X-Box 360.”

(I said it, but inserted NOT of course.)

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June 2, 2011 · 13 Comments

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Comments

  1. Shawni says

    June 2, 2011 at 6:15 am

    Now THAT is an awesome trick. I'm totally using that one. That cute Patrick helps to convince me that it will work 🙂

    Reply
  2. Jennifer says

    June 2, 2011 at 9:20 am

    Too funny and I love the picture!

    By the way, I have been meaning to thank you for your wonderful tutorial on how to make a blog header using Picasa. It was so helpful in creating my new blog header. You rock girlfriend! Love your blog and many thanks! 🙂
    ~jennifer

    Reply
  3. Pamela says

    June 2, 2011 at 11:23 am

    clever idea 🙂

    Reply
  4. Brian and Staci says

    June 2, 2011 at 3:37 pm

    We do a version of this…they have to close their hands (kind of like they are praying)…but I must say…the crossing the arms does look a little cuter 😉

    Reply
  5. Sarah says

    June 2, 2011 at 3:57 pm

    He is beyond adorable.

    Reply
  6. Wendy says

    June 2, 2011 at 5:32 pm

    Patrick is way too cute! and thanks for the tip, going to add that to my bag of tricks!

    Reply
  7. kayce hughes says

    June 2, 2011 at 7:27 pm

    Love it!

    Reply
  8. SZM says

    June 2, 2011 at 9:50 pm

    Oh I love this! I wonder if it will work on a 16 + 14 year old?

    Reply
  9. Emily says

    June 2, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    I love this! I usually say: "look at my eyes" but to get their arms still is way better!

    Reply
  10. Anonymous says

    June 3, 2011 at 4:01 am

    I am going to have try this…

    Reply
  11. Alissa says

    June 4, 2011 at 6:51 am

    I started trying this out this week with my very soon to be three year old son. TOTALLY works, he actually LOOKS at me while I'm talking to him! Thank You!

    Reply
  12. Unknown says

    June 18, 2011 at 9:52 am

    Too cut picture. my cousin has resemblance with Patrick.
    College Papers

    Reply
  13. AmandaDJandFletcher says

    December 14, 2012 at 1:39 am

    Love this post and will definately do this. Your blog is inspiring! I hope I can be such a positive force in my child's life.

    Reply

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