You Don’t Have To Want To
We are working on discipline in the karate school. That is our life skill for this cycle. So we are working on you don’t have to want to for today’s topic.
How often have you asked your child to do something and right away you hear something along the lines of, “I don’t want to” or “Do I have to?”.
We are teaching the kids that to have discipline means to obey the rules. Listen the first time that they are asked to do something and to do it. There are only two words that come out of your mouth whenever mom or dad asked you to do something. Those two words are “Yes, ma’am/sir.”
We give the kids a little bonus and ask them to create that little cartoon smoke behind them because as soon as they say, “Yes, ma’am”, or “Yes, sir” they take off and they do what they are asked right away.
Our goal is by teaching the kids basic discipline, over time, they are going to start to develop self-discipline, and as they start to develop self-discipline, that is going to help them be more successful in life.
So I have a great challenge for you. Now, every time you ask your child to do something, keep your ear open for what is their response is and as soon as you start to hear anything along the lines of “I don’t want to”, you can stop the conversation. Wanting to is not a requirement. I’m asking you to do this now go and get it done.
You will notice within a week or two of doing this, that they are just going to start doing it. You have asked me to do this, I am going to have to do it anyway, I might as well just go do it. Eventually, you are not going to have to ask them at all. They are going to just go ahead and do it on their own as they start to internalize and develop that self-discipline.