Imaginary Friends Need Discipline Too!

Will has a friend named Jacob Smith. We first heard of him six months ago when Will told us how Jacob had gotten into trouble at Nana's house. Puzzled, we asked Nana who Jacob was and she answered us with an, "I have no idea". Throughout the past few months, Will has been talking more and more of Jacob and the adventures they get into together. Will even told us that Jacob lives above a bait and tackle shop on US23. He told us that one as we passed it one day enroute to the mall.

Here's the problem: Whenever something, or I should say anything, bad occurs at the hand of my child, Jacob did it! If a lamp gets knocked over, a spill happens, or something gets broken, Will is quick to point out that Jacob did it. And now, the story of Jacob has evolved to the point that Jacob now has two brothers named Hay (?) and Sue (?). But as far as I can tell, Jacob's brothers are pretty good and rarely get into trouble.

So what do I do? My first instinct was to blow it off and laugh whenever Jacob did something bad. Then I realized that I am teaching my son to blame others for his own problems and to shirk responsibility. Bad lesson to teach him. Here's what we did: We set Will down and told him that whenever Jacob disobeyed us and did something really bad, Will would get the spanking. Of course, Will quickly objected, citing the fact that he didn't do it and Jacob needed the spanking. I responded to him with, "It doesn't matter, you are always there to see Jacob do it, and you should stop him". Will was a bit puzzled and you could see his little mind working, but he replied, "Ok dad."

I hope I'm going about this the right way. This fathering stuff is a tough game to figure out sometimes. As for now, I'll lean on Proverbs 29:15 that says-

"The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother"