[RealLifeMama]

Originally Posted by mamacheetah

Since we are still very new to GBD I am still having a really hard time figuring out this whole concept. I keep thinking in punishment terms and it is clouding my ability to tell if I am punishing or if I am allowing natural or logical consequences.

For me, to determine whether I am being punitive or just allowing a natural/logical consequence is to examine *my* motive and *my* thoughts. If my goal is to stop the behavior and correct the child, or stop the behavior and prevent it from happening again, then I consider that a natural or logical consequence. If I am trying to make my child feel badly so that he will refrain from the same behavior again, then that is punitive. My child may have really big feelings or even feel like he is being punished when I allow a natural consequence, but I can't help that.