You then return to the kitchen and take a few moments to reflect on how you responded to the problem. You are satisfied that you made the right decision. You resolve to be more careful about remembering your son's naptime. Before picking up your newspaper, you take note of a few ways you might be able to encourage Jamie to share with his friends.
Of course, you might react differently than in our example. The choice is yours.
The responsive discipline approach expects much from you. Instead of advocating a specific, canned response to misbehavior, responsive discipline emphasizes making choices. There is no magic formula, regardless of what some experts may say, other than love, understanding, and commitment.
Responsive discipline challenges you to think quickly under pressure, to maintain your composure in the heat of conflict, and to act decisively with purpose. With responsive discipline, the mind and heart are both engaged. This is your real challenge as a parent.