Punishment Before the Crime

Tyler has taken to spanking himself.

At first, it was just after I popped his leg. For example:

Tyler opens cabinet under sink at my grandparents’ house.

ME: Tyler, don’t touch. Close it. No! (I help him close the cabinet door.)

Tyler opens the cabinet door again.

ME: NO! Don’t touch. Close it. (I help him close the cabinet door.)

Tyler opens the cabinet door again.

ME: NO! Mama said, ‘don’t touch.’ (I pull his jeans off and swat his little leg a few times.)

Tyler stares at the closed door and slaps his own leg. He runs into the other room, still slapping his leg.

Second example: The other day, he threw something down the stairs and spanked himself when I scolded him.

Last night, he randomly slapped his while standing in the living room. I laughed and told Brian, “He’s been doing that — spanking himself right after I’ve spanked him.” Tyler then went over to the chair, grabbed a pillow and threw it over the baby gate: something he KNOWS he isn’t supposed to do.