The kids listen to DH....and not me

monchichi

I can tell DS to go to time out and he'll whine, but not move toward the corner.  DH just has to give him a look and he goes running!  I don't get it.  DH doesn't spank the kids or do anything scary.  He just has more authority.

What should I be doing?  DH says the kids don't respect me.  They love me a lot he says--but my respect level is a zero.  Do I just need to get really strict?  

Oh, and it's not like the kids run wild or anything.  They're generally pretty well behaved.  I'm talking about things like asking DS not to open the fridge....and he does it anyway.  Nothing terrible, but still not right! 

emilykristene2006

DD knows I mean business. I am more strict than DH and I do not give in. So, they listen more to me.

That said, she still opens the refrigerator a gazillion times a day. I can't see putting her in timeout for that, but if I did, she'd stop.

Marce921

I don't know how you are with them, but I find that DS listens to me more than DH because DH lets him get away with more. If I tell DS, "Don't do x again or you'll go to timeout" he knows I mean business. DH gives them 10-15 warnings before he'll ever do anything. Sometimes, he'll give just as many warnings and NEVER do anything about it. So, DS knows that he better listen to me or I will follow through with what I say.