First off I am going to climb on to my pedestal for just a second to say that watching some other kids really makes me appreciate just how well behaved and polite and lovely my kids are and that my gentle parenting really is the main reason for that.

I constantly hear parents threaten with 'Santa wont come if your naughty' but see it as a completely empty threat from just about every one I have heard say it.

Have you or do you you know anyone that actually followed through with the threat?

I try not to say anything like that unless I am prepared to follow through but have on occasion used empty threats. Just after DS was born and DH was away 3 nights in a row the girls threw water and their bath toys everywhere. I warned them after the second night that I would throw all their toys away (by throw away I mean, give the non damaged ones to our localo vinnies). Next night they did the same and now 5 months later they have only just got a few new bath toys. That is just an example of mine.

Yesterday we went to see SIL new house. Her kids (4g & 6b) are a handful and BIL & SIL were saying how much trouble they were having with both. SIL told me she used the threat of Santa not coming and her DS said I was bad last year and Santa still came. If my child said that to me I actually would not have a second thought about it, Santa would not be coming. SIL said she considered it but because of the gift they got him they really want to give it to him which I can understand with the excitment of giving.

What would you do if your child said that to you?