I tend to agree with Lifecoach. My six year old grandson gets out of control over the slightest interference with his notion of how things should be or should go. He doesn't tolerate correction or being told "No." He behaves appropriately with other adults, but with his mother and sometimes with us, he whines and throws fits to get his way. My daughter gets the worst of it. She is afraid to take him in public, and is embarrassed and ashamed by his behavior. He is not an abused child. On the contrary, sometimes it seems like he simply refuses to have any limits placed on him. Spanking doesn't make any difference to him, and none of us has the heart to do it anyway. We don't want to hit him. Talking to him about his behavior is a dead end. He won't discuss it.

We are implementing the approach suggested by Lifecoach in this column. Hopefully the loss of privileges will make a difference to our little tyrant.