There are times when just the mere threat of repercussions can be just as effective as anything else you might have in your tool box.You might say to an inmate "If you don't do what you are told, I will write you up and maybe send you to the Hive for twenty or thirty days." Sometimes that works.
More than once I've said "You better behave or I'll go back to the house and tell your Daddy."
Sometimes that works, too.
And more than once I was actually referring to their father.
And it even works with staff now and then, too.
Tonight I was out on the yard and the Cowboy called me from dining for my inspection. Drove down there on the cart and asked him if it was all clean and secure. He said it was.
I raised an eyebrow and said "It better be! If I get complaints I'm going to talk to your mother!"
Cowboy's Mom is Miz Slim, who works for me over in 25 house. She's nice and little bitty and can be as mean as a stepped on hornet if you make her mad.
His eyes got real big and he said "I... uhh.... I think I'll go check all of those doors one more time!"
And that just worked out real fine, if you ask me.
