The Wischmeyer Family

## Recap

### Observation

Jo visits the Wischmeyer household after watching their submission reel. Upon arrival, Jo meets the twins and their parents. Ashlyn and Alaia seem to be reserved and quiet. Melora explains that Jared, their son, is at school. John leaves for work, and Melora, who works from home, sits at her computer, leaving the twins to their own devices. Ashlyn accidentally drops the toaster while trying to make herself Pop-Tarts. Melora scolds her, and Ashlyn complains that she couldn't ask for help as Melora was on the phone. Melora explains that she is always on the phone because it is part of her work.

Alaia and Melora later argue over a piece of paper and a pencil. Alaia lashes out and slaps Melora when she tries to put her in timeout. Then Melora returns to her PC. While her mother is at work, Alaia continuously calls her "Stinky Butt!" and chants "Na-na-na-na boo boo". In order to deal with Alaia, who has fled to the restroom for cover, Melora pulls off her headphones. Alaia is still irking Melora when she sits down once again. Melora is preparing to stand up once more. She turns back, though, and tells Jo that she is unsure of what to do. Then, as she informs Jo that her kids are "totally out of control" and that she needs to call her supervisor immediately to avoid being fired, Melora breaks down in tears.

Later on that day, when Jared gets home from school, he first encounters Jo. Alaia quickly bursts into his room and takes his playing cards. She sprints to the living room and dumps them there. Jared picks up his cards while Alaia dances around. Ashlyn takes a recorder and plays around with it in the meantime. When Jared's sisters treat him poorly, Jo queries him about what his parents do. Jared believes his parents are powerless to stop the children. Melora, who is still using the computer, instructs Jared to "quit that" as Ashlyn continues to record. Ashlyn is the one playing the recorder, according to Jared, and Alia just threw all of her cards on the ground. Jared is not being heard by Melora.

Later, Alaia calls Jared a "fool" and a "stinky butt" before he orders her to shut up. Alaia then walks up to Melora to complain about how Jared is continually telling her to shut up. Then Melora tells Jared to go to his room. Jared needs to express his thoughts to Melora, so Jo goes to talk to him and urges him to do so.

After John gets home, Melora and he head downstairs to put the girls to bed. Alaia is serene at night, but Ashlyn won't give up easily. Melora eventually joins them in bed in an effort to get the girls to sleep, but she nods off before they do. Following that, the girls go to John in the living room and start requesting milk and snacks. Jo decides that she has seen enough for the day and leaves John to handle the girls.

### Parent Meeting

Jo is very critical of the girl's behavior and the lack of discipline, the inconsistent bedtime routine, and Melora's handling of Jared at the meeting. Jared and Melora, according to Melora, are close. Melora becomes upset when Jo notes that she works a full-time job at home and that her children suffer as a result. She loves her children and wants to be the best parent and career lady. According to Jo, there must be equilibrium.

### Teaching

Jo brings in her daily schedule for the family, marked in red circles to denote Melora's work hours, which amount to around six hours per day. Melora is relieved that she can spend more time playing with her children while maintaining her work.

When Jared is in school, Jo goes through the home rules. The girls say, "I can't hear you," while covering their ears. They refuse to accept it. Then Jo presents the Naughty Corner, a girls-only timeout. The females must remain in place until their allotted four minutes have passed if they violate the home rules. The Naughty Corner, according to Melora, will be difficult, especially for Alaia, who is obstinate and unsure of how long she will stay there.

Alaia does indeed challenge her father when it comes to the Naughty Corner. At the kitchen counter, where the kids typically sit, Alaia is currently coloring. John then tells her it's time for a nap. That makes Alaia very angry, and she fights back. Jo leads him through the punishment's steps. John tells Alaia she is going to the Naughty Corner for a time out for not listening and that she "will not act like this" when she is told to cooperate. He then takes an irate Alaia to timeout. Alaia won't stand for it. She slams the door as she exits the area and enters another room. Jo gives John instructions on how to re-enter a timeout after a child has escaped. John feels overpowered. He is told to remain strong and that it is only a temper tantrum by Jo. Alaia tries to swipe at her father as John brings her back to time out, but her father walks away. After John has already left, Alaia is smug and remains in the corner, still unhappy over the entire situation. John claims that Alaia has astonished him. Alaia has never been this explosive, and he feels like a bad dad because of it. John confesses that he hasn't cried in ten years. He eventually breaks down in tears after realizing how out of control the girls truly are. He questions what Melora and he did to arrive at that situation. John is reassured by Jo that Alaia still adores him. John acknowledges that it is difficult to see the entire event. John is aware of Jo's observation that the strategy is effective. Alaia eventually becomes tranquil. John returns after her allotted time has passed to speak with her about what transpired and request an apology. Alaia apologizes to him voluntarily. Alaia and John embrace. John avows his accomplishment in having "made it through the roughest parts of having control again." Alaia is calmer as John carries her to her nap.

Jared arrives home from school later in the afternoon. For Jared and Melora, Jo brings the Thoughtbox and introduces it. Jo wants the two of them to sit down and speak about anything Jared wants to discuss every night after the girls are in bed. Jared has the ability to express his thoughts, ask questions, and communicate his feelings. On a sheet of paper, Jared will jot down his ideas before folding it and placing it in the box. Jared thinks it's fantastic that he can chat with his mom without the girls interfering. In line with Jared, Melora agrees.

That evening, Jo explains to Melora and John the stay in Bed method and the bedtime routine. As usual, Alaia maintains her composure and sleeps in her bed. Ashlyn, though, isn't going down without a fight. When Ashlyn exits, she tells her mother that she wants to cuddle up next to her. While Alaia tells her mother that "she wants you to lay with her," Melora completes step 1 and exits the room. The second time, Ashlyn sternly warns her mother that "if you don't lay with us, dad's going to." Jo is adamant that they disregard that. A frustrated Ashlyn makes a couple brief appearances while screaming inconsolably because she can't believe what is taking place. Soon after, Ashlyn hurls books and pillows in retaliation. She then keeps entering and exiting. Ashlyn acknowledges that she is having a rough night and basically tells her parents to give up. The worst thing, according to Melora, is listening to Ashlyn beg her mother to join her in bed, and she is on the edge of giving in. After leaving her bed 11 times, Ashlyn finally settles down. Jo adamantly tells Melora that she isn't having sex with the girls. In agreement, Melora remarks that "it's getting quieter." Both of the girls are soundly asleep after 45 minutes. John and Melora feel pleased with themselves. Jo is delighted for them. It is an important turning point for Wishcmeyers. Melora concedes that the stay in Bed Technique is great. It needs to be "manually written, handed out at birth to every mother and father in the world," according to her. Jo leaves for a few days to check on the parents after her teaching duties are over the following day. Although Melora and John agree that Jo should stay a little longer, they can live without her for a while.

### Family Test Run

The day after Jo departs, the girls start to put their parents to the test, and the parents start over.

When the twins enter, Jared is in his room, finishing his homework. They are aware that they shouldn't be in his room when he does his homework, says Jared. Jared receives no response from Ashlyn, and Alaia reprimands him by saying, "You're not my boss." Melora chastises her son for telling them to go and declares, "I'm asking them nicely to leave, they're leaving." Jared said that he politely asked them five times. Melora counters that he didn't, and she gives him points for the way he said it. Jared is instructed to do his schoolwork and sit down by her. Jared acknowledges that it seems incredibly unfair that the females avoid trouble while he does. He requests in a note: His thought box was, "Why do I get consequences and the girls don't?" When Jared and Melora discuss this later that evening, Melora claims that it is because they are only four while he is nine. You're missing the point, Melora, Jo yells at her TV.

Melora instructs the girls to prepare their pajamas later that evening so they can take a bath after dinner and playing. Alaia acknowledges that she is not paying attention to her. If she doesn't comply, Melora warns her that she will forfeit her right to playtime. Alaia is then asked by Melora if she wants to spend the next four minutes in the Naughty Corner. Alaia and Melora are conversing across the room because they are separated by a great distance. "You're starting this wrong," Jo yells at the television. Bring yourself to her level and warn her. You ought to stop talking to your mother in this manner, Melora warns. Alaia rushes down the steps. We'll see; let's go in four minutes. You ought to stop talking to your mother in this manner, Melora warns. Alaia rushes down the steps. We'll see; let's go in four minutes, Melora says. Alaia is held down in the downstairs corner when Melora grabs hold of her to prevent her from running away. In the Naughty Corner, Alaia and Melora are often at odds. Alaia then hits her mother in the face, who is now furious as a hornet. The argument between Melora and Alia then resumes. Alaia then orders her mother to "Back off right now!" while still wearing her pajamas, but her mother won't budge. Jo tells the television, "Melora, you just lost."

Bedtime that night was a complete disaster. The girls are informed by John that story time has ended and that it is time to go to bed. John declines Ashlyn's request for him to read another story. Ashlyn yells as the parents kiss the girls goodnight. Alaia explains to her father, calmly but irritated, that "she wants a story, so just do it." John continues to converse with Ashlyn after she exits. After John has put Alaia back to sleep for 30 minutes, Ashlyn asks for milk, and Alaia wants her hamster. Melora snubs John while shaking her head. After another 30 minutes, Ashlyn and Alaia work together to outrun their parents. Try to convince us to put us to bed, Ashlyn challenges. When Ashlyn is by the door, Alaia approaches John and Melora and says, "I get to read a book, so night you butt pie." The girls rush to their room as soon as John gets up. Meanwhile, Melora is sitting on the couch and looking bewildered at the ground.

The girls take more than an hour to fall asleep.

### DVD Meeting

Jo comes back to teach the family where they erred in applying the tactics, beginning with the way Melora handled the visitor incorrectly by holding Alaia down and paying her attention negatively rather than informing her what she did and walking away so Alaia could serve her sentence.

Jo then demonstrates the appalling bedtime. The Stay in Bed Technique has several steps, and Jo makes it obvious to Melora and John in particular that they must complete each one. If they don't take control of the smaller details, it won't work. If they had done that, the females would not have banded together against them, and the situation would have been stopped in its tracks.

Jo at last plays a clip of Melora correcting Jared's voice tone. When Melora talks to Jared disrespectfully, according to Jo, she tells him that he was the one who was acting disrespectfully. Jo thinks that Melora must set a positive example for Jared in her communication style. Jo is prepared to assist them in strengthening the methods.

### Reinforcement

Later, Alaia made the decision to irritate Jared by turning off the video game he was playing. Alaia is watching TV or playing a game when Jared enters the room and turns the TV off. How would Alaia feel about that? Alaia won't pay attention. Melora is breaking up the argument. Alaia is put down on the couch by Melora while she holds her up rather than blaming Jared. Alaia is told by her to keep her distance from Jared so he may play his video game. After a warning, Melora gets Alaia up for a second battle to go to the Naughty Corner, as she refuses to give up without a fight. Alaia and Melora then proceed there without further conflict. Alaia is informed by Melora that Jared's game has been turned off, and she is instructed to turn around and remain still for four minutes. Melora is told to go by Jo, while Alaia remains in the corner without resistance. Jo explains to Melora how she can interact with the females more effectively while maintaining her composure. Melora, on the other hand, is pleased with Alaia for not making a fuss over timeout as much. Alaia apologizes after the allotted four minutes have passed, and Melora and Alaia then separate to play. Melora claims that the girls, in particular Alaia, are aware that the Naughty Corner is here to stay.

Jared acknowledges that he can communicate with his mother more as a result of the thought box. He thinks his mother values him far more. Jared is assured by Melora that she adores him and invites him to visit her whenever he wants. Melora believes that the Thought Box has greatly aided in her and Jared's increased closeness. The information Jared has to give is very interesting to Melora.

According to Jo, the strategies and planning are effective. Melora is cutting back on her work hours, getting to know Jared better, and doing a great job of keeping the girls in line, especially when she is seen using the Naughty Corner method to discipline Ashlyn with Jo's help. As a result of playing together, the children are getting along considerably better. The last thing Jo wants to finish before going again is getting ready for bed.

The girls are both calmer at bedtime as soon as the lights go off, but these girls just want to have fun. When the females emerge, they both start singing "Na na na boo boo!" This time, John pays attention to the little things, speaks sparingly, and both parents collaborate. In 14 minutes, the females emerged three times, but after that, they gave up. The girls are sound asleep four minutes later. The girls, especially Ashlyn, are aware that their parents aren't giving up on trying to put them back to bed, according to Melora, who is pleased with the development. Melora understands that going to bed will be simpler if she and John are consistent.

Jo observes a gradual but steady improvement in the family. Jo enjoys being with her family better when she is just having fun. They narrate stories while dancing, doing the Hokey Pokey, and playing in the snow. Even Mom may be seen having fun with the girls. John expresses satisfaction with the gains made by the girls: Ashlyn is more in control before sleep, Alaia is doing what her parents ask of her, and she isn't as antagonistic or confrontational. Melora exclaims with pride that she no longer lays with the kids, which is very important to her. Then Melora and Jared start making jokes about Jared's first kiss while giggling over chapstick. Jo is pleased to report that Melora is thrilled to spend more time enjoying being a mother, that Jared feels empowered, and that communication is open. Jo then bids the family farewell. The grieving family claims they will miss her.

### Family Update

The youngsters may be seen howling with laughter at the conclusion.

**Family Members**
 John Wischmeyer
 Jared Wischmeyer
 Ashlyn Wischmeyer
 Alaia Wischmeyer

## Gallery

Ashlyn and AlaiaWischmeyer Children play Rolle Polly