All Out of Time Outs

As of the last couple weeks, time-out as a method of discipline for Charley has become almost totally ineffective. Why, you ask? How is it possible for time-outs to become ineffective? I have one word for all of you: ZANDER.

Taking on the role of the peace maker, Zander cannot stand to leave his sister hanging when she's sitting alone on the stairs, either crying, grunting, or screaming in protest. He cannot stand to see her tears, nor can he stand to hear the anguish in her voice. So, without fail, Zander always comes to the rescue within thirty seconds of Charley going in time-out. If she's REALLY lucky, he will come to the stairs bearing gifts, such as toys, books, or even maybe a snack/drink to keep her busy for the next two minutes and thirty seconds. He will promptly plop himself next to her side in protest, refusing to move until her time-out of three whole minutes is officially over. If she's not quite as lucky, he will simply bless her with his mere company, which usually includes either a full recitation of the ABC's or his version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." And every time he does this, without fail, her tears and cries stop within thirty seconds of his arrival. So, essentially, "time-out" becomes "time-in" with Zander. And by Charley's reaction, I don't think the punishment aspect of time-out is quite as painful. In fact, many times when the time-out period is over, I cannot coax either one of them off the stairs because they are too busy having fun. God forbid should I dare interrupt time-out!

I've tried everything I can imagine to keep Zander away from the stairs for three whole minutes. I've tried bribing, coaxing, distracting, threatening, anything that comes to mind. But nothing, and I mean nothing, will keep him from saving his sister. If I try to hold him, he thrashes and cries out her name in desperation, "I-E, I-E, I-E!!!!!" (Zander can't say "Charley" yet, so he says something that sounds more like "eye-eeee"). You would think that I was trying to separate them forever.

I'm not sure that Charley truly appreciates Zander's loyalty yet. I don't think she quite understands that he worships the ground that she walks on, that he calls out her name when he cannot find her, that he cannot stand to be away from here for even a few minutes, that he cannot stand to see her mad or angry. I hope that with time and maturity, Charley will realize how very lucky she is to have a brother willing to always come and save the day for her, in whatever way he can. Because her little brother truly is Superman.