It’s very common, as are using ghosts and such to make kids behave. I didn’t like it and didn’t do it. It just didn’t sit right. It shifts the responsibility to the monster, the kid has to behave because the monster/ghost will come, not because the constant pot banging or screaming or whatever they’re doing will disturb the neighbors or give Mom a headache. There’s no disciplinary underpinning, just fear to regulate behavior. Why not just say that they need to pipe down, because they’re too loud?

Even so, it was always understood that the parents were on the children’s side, that the parents were warning them to keep the monster or ghost from coming. The latest wrinkle is calling the monster yourself, and tattling on your child, there are apps. It changes the dynamic. ‘Stop that or the monster will come’ is still watching out for your kid. “I’m calling the monster right now!” is just going too far, but a lot of young parents are using these apps.

Talking things over with your wife about how to discipline your kids is really important. Finding out now where your views differ is better than when a big issue crops up (teen attitudes, etc).