I've been known to just turn the radio up until I can't hear the whining/screaming/etc. anymore. With the added bonus that occasionally whatever's on so mesmerizes the aforementioned screamer that she stops being quite so noisy in the first place. I suspect this is not a child-rearing-expert-approved strategy, but they don't have my kid.
My sister made her kids eat lunch in shifts because they kept fighting each other when they were on school break. That way she only had one child at the table at a time. Everyone else had to do something in their own room.
Actually, I just thought of something that a lady in our church used to do with her kids... she made up a chart of chores - clean toilet, wipe down one cupboard... and so on. Every time they fought or said they were bored, she pulled out the chart. They had to do a chart. It wasn't a threat... if you yelled at your brother you got to scrub the bathtub... if you said you were bored, you swept the kitchen floor. Soon, her kids were getting along better and finding things to keep themselves entertained! Just a thought :)
I love Melissa's church lady's suggestion. If there are well defined, calmly delivered consequences, and they know what to expect, things will get better. Not absolutely perfect, but at least bearable!
Part of what they are doing, whether they realize it or not, is trying to get your attention. Whatever kind of attention you give is OK with them and could even be sort of amusing to them. AACK! If you can find a way to unemotionally deliver consequences that they really don't like much and then make big deals out of catching them NOT fighting, you can most likely turn things around.
And if that fails, chocolate, earplugs, duct tape, and wine are a perfectly acceptable backup plan! LOL!
11 comments:
You are really good at touching upon my feelings in a very concise way. Chalk it up to Daylight savings. Have some chocolate. It always helps.
Bonnie
Earplugs are good. So is duct tape.
I ditto the first to comments!! Chocolate and earplugs -- works for me. :)
Christina
I've been known to just turn the radio up until I can't hear the whining/screaming/etc. anymore. With the added bonus that occasionally whatever's on so mesmerizes the aforementioned screamer that she stops being quite so noisy in the first place. I suspect this is not a child-rearing-expert-approved strategy, but they don't have my kid.
My sister made her kids eat lunch in shifts because they kept fighting each other when they were on school break. That way she only had one child at the table at a time. Everyone else had to do something in their own room.
I stored that one away for future reference . . .
Oh please let me know if you find the solution to this problem...
When you get a good solution, please post it...mine are at each other's necks!
Good luck!
I'm gonna ditto the others... chocolate and ear plugs for you, duct tape for the kids :)
Good luck!!!
Actually, I just thought of something that a lady in our church used to do with her kids... she made up a chart of chores - clean toilet, wipe down one cupboard... and so on. Every time they fought or said they were bored, she pulled out the chart. They had to do a chart. It wasn't a threat... if you yelled at your brother you got to scrub the bathtub... if you said you were bored, you swept the kitchen floor. Soon, her kids were getting along better and finding things to keep themselves entertained! Just a thought :)
I can help with this one! http://phdwithninekids.blogspot.com/2008/01/doctor-of-philosophy-is-in.html
Another solution: transcribe their bickering into a blog post! http://phdwithninekids.blogspot.com/2008/03/in-which-twins-spend-day-in-cave.html
Of course, chocolate and earplugs works, too...especially if you add a glass or two of wine.
I love Melissa's church lady's suggestion. If there are well defined, calmly delivered consequences, and they know what to expect, things will get better. Not absolutely perfect, but at least bearable!
Part of what they are doing, whether they realize it or not, is trying to get your attention. Whatever kind of attention you give is OK with them and could even be sort of amusing to them. AACK! If you can find a way to unemotionally deliver consequences that they really don't like much and then make big deals out of catching them NOT fighting, you can most likely turn things around.
And if that fails, chocolate, earplugs, duct tape, and wine are a perfectly acceptable backup plan! LOL!
GOOD LUCK!
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