Snowy Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Don't get me wrong, my boys are lovely and I thoroughly enjoy them! And when they are on their own with me they are fine. But you know those times when they won't stop bickering? Like arguing over whose choice to watch on TV; who had the toy first; and on and on! A lot of the time they do play really well together, but does anyone have any tips on things to distract them when they get into arguing mode? Before I bang their heads together!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyLizzie Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I make mine go outside to play, whatever the weather I've also been known to turn the TV off if they can't agree - at least it unites them against me! Or suggest a juice and biscuit. If all else fails I put them on the step to 'time out' and calm down. They drive me mad A LOT and they're only 3 and 5! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Ooooh same boat. Shall we all start paddling together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 If all else fails I put them on the step to 'time out' and calm down. Yes, we had a naughty step or if it was both of them, they had to sit still on the sofa until they'd calmed down. Worked a treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I used the bottom step as the naughty step until I discovered ds1 running down the drive naked. His 'punishments' have to be a lot more inventive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Tough one Snowy, I know when my 2 were little there were times when they bickered all the time (even sometimes over imaginary things ) and at the time it seemed endless I used to use time out to calm down, no tv if they couldn't decided on which program, change of scene - ie play outside, quick walk round the block to post an envelope There were times when I could have banged their heads together or sat in a corner and sobbed............I actually found myself thinking the other day that I haven't heard my 2 argue for a while now...........so there is hope..........it's just taken them until they are 14 and nearly 16 to manage a few weeks of calm Thinking of you............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Mine still argue about absolutely trivial nonsense. They are almost 16 and 14 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Bronze, I'm glad to hear that my son isn't the only one to strip off in protest at a punishment. Last time I made him go inside as punishment for hitting one of the chickens, I looked round to check on him and found him standing against the patio door, starkers Normally, the only punishment that works in our house is to socially isolate my son for a couple of minute, usually by dumping him in his cot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Yep I remember it well Mine fought continuously, or so it seemed at the time. I felt more like a referee than a mother Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Mine still argue about absolutely trivial nonsense. They are almost 16 and 14 . I feel sure I have jinxed the momentary calm that has descended on my teenagers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Why do you think I'm checking the Omlet forum at 6pm on a school night? Escaping the boys, of course! Mine bicker most of the time and when they play outside they invent new ways of annoying me. Filling a plastic bag with dirt then pouring it down the slide was today's innovation. I find that restorative glass of wine that I used to have with my dinner, I now have with their dinner.... Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyLizzie Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Filling a plastic bag with dirt then pouring it down the slide was today's innovation. Sounds a lot like something my two terrors would get up to. Last week they filled the sink and 'made soap' by mixing toothpaste, soap, kandoo and whatever else they could get their hands on. The water was all the way up to the overflow with the tap still running by the time I got there I often pretend I can't see them misbehaving - I feel better for it and they often loose interest quite soon after. Unless it's going to do huge damage to the house/garden/them I try to ignore it. At the moment they are obsessed with Poo Poo - talking about it and using the words at every opportunity. I don't think the language improves as they get older, if my two 'little brothers' are anything to go by! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I am useless with small children, anything between the age of 2 and 6 brings me out in hives. Now I have 2 teenagers I feel I have found my 'mum niche' and we all get along alot better. Having said that I used to have a rather good line in distraction- quite simply I would do something so mad that the boys would stop fighting/grabbing/screaming and stand looking at me with their mouths open. It would nearly always break the spell and defuse the situation. Favourites included putting a cushion on my head and quacking like a duck, doing a headstand, reciting 'The Highwayman' with saucepan lid cymbals accompaniment, and wearing oven gloves like dog's ears and howling. No wonder they both turned out the way they did... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 21, 2008 Author Share Posted April 21, 2008 I knew I coould trust you all to make me laugh! It is just so good to know you are not alone sometimes! Mine are 3 and 5 - and just like all yours, you can guarentee that if they are playing 'nicely' together, they are most definitely getting up to some kind of mischief Love your suggestions Rhapsody - just off to find the oven gloves. If you all hear howling, don't worry, it's just me breaking up an argument! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 you can guarentee that if they are playing 'nicely' together, they are most definitely getting up to some kind of mischief This was the outcome of Alex playing nicely upstairs in his own last week... http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=475178&l=7baf7&id=663092293 Was it you, Snowy, who had the curly topped boy who had a big boy haircut? This is Alex, aged 2, before he had all his curls chopped http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=224621&l=08261&id=663092293 Now he's just got very wiry hair, not a curl in sight Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I am useless with small children, anything between the age of 2 and 6 brings me out in hives. Now I have 2 teenagers I feel I have found my 'mum niche' and we all get along alot better. Having said that I used to have a rather good line in distraction- quite simply I would do something so mad that the boys would stop fighting/grabbing/screaming and stand looking at me with their mouths open. It would nearly always break the spell and defuse the situation. Favourites included putting a cushion on my head and quacking like a duck, doing a headstand, reciting 'The Highwayman' with saucepan lid cymbals accompaniment, and wearing oven gloves like dog's ears and howling.No wonder they both turned out the way they did... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I find that restorative glass of wine that I used to have with my dinner, I now have with their dinner.... Jo Jo, mine gets earlier and earlier! Luckily mine have separate bedrooms - when it all get too much I send them to their rooms and tell them they can't come out til dinner time. Also, as we live in a 1930's house, the door handles are too high for them to use effectively so I can threaten them with shutting the door if they don't stay put. Works for me - now where's the corkscrew? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaP Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I am sooooooooo glad I'm not the only one who regularly reaches the end of her tether with her children. I've often said that I must be being punished for something I did in a previous life - I've got 4 I've got 3 boys aged 17, 10 and 9 and in my case they are definitely the most mischievous (I'm being very polite here) - my daughter is 14 and has always been an I have also come to the conclusion that boys don't grow up, they just get bigger Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 21, 2008 Author Share Posted April 21, 2008 I have also come to the conclusion that boys don't grow up, they just get bigger That is so true! I think the 3 and 5 year old can be naughty, but put them together with husband and 16 year old and it's like world war three! I hide in the dining room with my sewing and some loud music and try to ignore it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I have also come to the conclusion that boys don't grow up, they just get bigger I'll second that My eldest son is 26, he has a son of 2 and his g.friend is 5 months pregnant with the second. The minute he gets home from work, instead of helping his g.friend, who also works full time, he sits down and plays on his stupid Playstation thingy Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 snowey children have to work it out for themselves its part of their developmental process. failing that i have a behaviour management course at wigston starting the 6th may for 7 weeks in the morning. i'm running it for a charity in leicester if you're interested!!!! free inc. free childcare (granted) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I have also come to the conclusion that boys don't grow up, they just get bigger Oi! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 My two are exactly the same! My daughter is 10 and a half and my son has just turned 8. They are . They have their own bedrooms and are sent there with alarming regularity! My daughter is now starting to get hormonal which has made things 100 times worse! If you speak to her she either shouts or is in tears! I love them dearly but I also love the peace and quiet after 8pm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGirlsMum Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Its just the same here two girls 8 and 5. Eldest is desperate to be an only child But her suggestion last week was could I adopt someone older than her so she doesn't have to be the eldest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddie Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Hate to sat it, but my two get on pretty well 98% of the time they actually miss each other after a day or two apart.. Perhaps it's me being such a c..p mother, that they fell safety in numbers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...