Cracking Down

Sigh. I go through spells of being a great disciplinarian and spells where I sort of give up. After a few weeks of not doing so well, I definitely notice a change in my kids. They whine, cry, throw tantrums...you know the drill. If you have kids, you know the drill. Even my 6 year old seems to be regressing. Husband says I coddle him too much, well all the kids actually. I want to have a fun summer of limited whining. So I am cracking down. But this stage, the stage where I start getting tough again, is the hardest of all. The stage that wants me to quit trying b/c I have to be sooo diligent I get nothing else done.
Honestly, I have spent the last 2 hours trying to get my girls to be quiet and settle down for a nap. They need it, their behavior this morning showed me how much they need it. I think, should I just give in, should I just let them get up? But then they win. They know they win and the next time I try, it will be the same thing, potty, drink, toys, talking, getting up...etc. Now that Sweet Pea is in a toddler bed, it is harder. We are just adjusting to it and today it is wearing me out. And i have gotten nothing done b/c I have to keep checking on them, keep reprimanding them, need I say spank them. But how many times do you spank a child or take a toy away for it to work?
I know, until it works. That is what we need to be: diligent. I guess that is my word for the day. Diligent. But I still have hope. Because I have seen how my kids act when I am diligent. They are good kids and they will turn out to be good adults.
As long as I am diligent now.