wants to lock my kids in their bedrooms for the rest of their childhood!!!!!!

[hambirg]

I'm just glad that I'm not the only one! My DS10 and DD8 are like an old married couple. . .can't live without each other, can't live with each other. And to make it worse, if they are getting along, my DD15 will start something with one of them.

I really don't understand it. . .they share well. . .they can easily agree and compromise on things. . like what to watch or what game to play. . .but they still manage to find things to bicker over! If one of them is talking about sharks, then the other has to butt in and correct them on something. . .then it starts. Or my son will be telling me something (and he's a little slower expressing himself than my girls are) and DD8 will finish his thought for him and then he gets mad. . .and then it starts. And my DD8 has the shrillest, whiniest, cry-scream that it makes my head want to explode!

I pretty much try to use the divide and conquer method. I just separate them until everybody can calm down. Or if it's really bad, I make them do some menial task together. . .where they have to cooperate to get it done. They really hate that.

I'm surprised I don't drink more too.

 

[lukenick1]

Phew....I thought my kids were the only ones. I am going to try the writing strategy but to be honest my older one loves to write. We'll see what happens. Im just not going to put up with it anymore. I sent them out to play in the snow and next thing you know they are coming in crying because they threw snow in each others faces, down back, etc. Aye yi yi!!!! When they are alone they are so sweet and fun to be with and there are times when they play so nice. I think the older one is jealous of the little one, so he will instigate a fight or take matter into his own hands if his brother aggravates him. Oh and did I mention my ds7 has a potty mouth??? Thats another thread!

 

[mad_for_mickey]

I recentl read this one and am thinking about trying it with my DS16 and DD11.

If they are fighting, they get sent to each others room. Neither one wants the sib set free in his/her room.

This is, without a doubt, one of the best suggestions I have ever read on these boards.

Thankfully my kids don't argue much, but, oh, the next time they do...

 

[krcit]

I have been known to make my 2 dd's sit on the couch and hold hands(12 and 15) In minutes, they are laughing. Most of the time though, I ignore it.

 

[mousebymarriage]

I recentl read this one and am thinking about trying it with my DS16 and DD11.

If they are fighting, they get sent to each others room. Neither one wants the sib set free in his/her room.

I love this idea and I am definately going to give it a try.

My kids are 5 years apart and they still fight! DD is 14 and DS is 9 and some days they fight about everything. I was soooo happy when they went back to school today. There are days when they get along great and it makes me smile just to watch them interact but, then there are days when I swear they can't even be in the same house without finding something to argue about.
The funny thing is, DD14 will pick on her brother like crazy but, God help anyone else that picks on him, she will knock them out!

 

[tink_lover]

When one of mine misbehave, fight or act inappropriately towards another, they get to spend time with ME! I have all kinds of jobs for them to do - including wiping the baseboards, scrubbing walls and doors, disinfecting lightswitches, folding clothes, washing windows - you get the idea. Works great and they help me clean.

 

[unlimiteddisney]

At our house we take minutes off bed time. If you want to bicker, fight, have a tantrum or whatever it may be, however long it lasts is how many minutes get taken off your bedtime. You fight for five min. or half hour it gets taken off. The other things that works for us as well is money like the other mom said. Money taken right out of the piggy bank. It works but not always as good as the eary bed time.

 

[tyniknate]

I love, love love the idea of putting them in each others bedrooms. I have DS 16, DS 12 and DS 6. This will be torture for all of them! You would think with them being so far apart in ages that they would just leave each other alone. NOOOOOO. I was so glad to see the big yellow bus this morning!

 

[lukenick1]

Ok so my 2 ds's will not be happy when they get home. I have to pick up a friend and bring her to pick up her car. They HATE being in the car and will be complaining as soon as I tell them. The first one who complains will be writing "I WILL NOT COMPLAIN" 50 times when we get back. I will warn them first. Hoping for a peaceful car ride

 

[15isto2]

Dont they make electroshock collars in kid sizes

 

[lukenick1]

Dont they make electroshock collars in kid sizes

Ooooo now that I would pay for, or the more humane ones that spray them in the face with citronella.

 

[MomToOne]

yet another reason I'm seriously thinking that DD might be an only child

Lol, that works too!

It doesn't help - my only DD10 just starts bickering with me!

It's amazing how much complaining a 10 year old girl can do! And that high-pitched whiny voice? Oye!!!

Unfortunately, I think constantly finding something to be upset about is just the nature of the beast at this age....

 

[My3kiddos]

Funny at 7 & 9 my DD's was planning on an off days every other day on days they was best friends no fighting an they would remind each other an stop fighting off days all they did was fight if they caught themselves not fighting they would remind each other to fight that it was off day.

Then came DD#3 when the older ones was 12 an 13 the middle DD's mission in life became to fight with baby sis when she was old enough to fight with. I never figured out what a 3 yr old an a 14 yr old could possibly have to fight about...it was more like having a 4 an 3 yr old than 14 an 3 yr olds.

There is something about a middle child feeling like it's their God given right to torment their younger sibling when they come along no matter what the age difference. I have a 15 yr old DS and 4 yr old DS that fight CONSTANTLY! One minute they are playing together loving each other then something snaps and all hell breaks lose. It drives me nuts! My 16 yr old DD and 15 yo DS are the same way. When no one is looking they are in each other's room getting along talking civilized then when I walk by they immediately start fighting. I think they are trying to send me to the crazy house. Last week they all 3 were fighting and EVERYONE had to go to their room because I needed a break.

 

[Leajess99]

I love this idea and I am definately going to give it a try.

My kids are 5 years apart and they still fight! DD is 14 and DS is 9 and some days they fight about everything. I was soooo happy when they went back to school today. There are days when they get along great and it makes me smile just to watch them interact but, then there are days when I swear they can't even be in the same house without finding something to argue about.
The funny thing is, DD14 will pick on her brother like crazy but, God help anyone else that picks on him, she will knock them out!

I am in the same boat with the same age differences. All 3 of mine are 5 years from the next sibling and I thought this would help. It doesn't. The 17 and 7 year old fight the worst though. Yesterday a friend said we would not have school today as a snow storm was coming this way. I was never so happy as to check the weather and see they were full of crap. No snowstorm and all kids off to school. Since getting home they have been playing games and getting a long great with each other.

 

[lukenick1]

so far so good.....

 

[rileysmommy]

I have it too with my ds (5) and dd (9). I was so glad when my dd went back to school today.

 

[princessmorgan]

Lol! Thanks for this thread! I couldn't stand the fighting anymore between my kids (and they're teeny tiny), so I locked myself in the bathroom for a few minutes for a break I'm going to try some of these new techniques.

 

[Macgyver91]

We have to same problem here...DD13 and DS 10. We used to scream, yell and carry on with them until someone wiser then us passed on some good info. They told us that we were just feeding into their screaming and yelling and making it worse. We have also started making them start over and redo something that they did disrespectfully or hateful to us or each other. I don't know how many times we have had them stop, come back, and do a task all over again. They have gotten tons better, but it did take a WHILE and it wasn't without serious backfire the first few times!! Who knew that 2 kids could complain that much. I was so dreading this Christmas break but it hasn't been that bad and we have actually had several really nice moments. I am also realistic though...I don't think my kids will EVER be one of those just standing quietly in line and NEVER acting up again. I love them just as they are...maybe just alittle less vocal!

What makes me crazy is the sibling rivalry...they do totally different things but just cant seem to be happy for the other one when they do something great. That we haven't figured out how to fix.

 

[robinb]

This is the main reason I was "one and done" when it came to kids.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Like others here my kids are the best of friends...till they aren't. I was an only so I didn't get this and thought my kids needed therapy. My DH laughed and said that was just how he and his brother were. Well, that was good to know but how do I fix them?

Our biggest issue is space. I wish I could do something to fix it. There are 5 of us, 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, just under 1200sf house. Everything is small and we are always on top of each other. Even fun things like baking cookies or dinner together is a headache cause as my grandma says, "this is a kitchen for 1, everyone else get out." But I like those moments with them, but yeah, it isn't easy. Then there are the bedrooms, DD11 is a total neat freak (don't know who her real mother is ) and DD8 is a tornado (I KNOW who her daddy is! ) Of course, they share a room. DD16 has her own room and while the thought has crossed my mind to put DD11 in there, it wouldn't help, DD16 is also a mess plus she is very much a loaner. She just likes to be alone. She has been that way since she was a baby. I swear someday she will need her own bedroom from her own husband. So it wouldn't help DD11 and would make DD16 crazy so for now we are stuck. DD11 will spend all day organizing and DD8 can come in and in minutes have it destroyed. Thing is she seems to genuinly feel bad about it, but she just is a mess. I don't know how 3 kids can all be raised the same and turn out so different. There have been times I have considered buying a fold out couch for the living room for DH and myself so they could each have their own room, but then I remind myself that is truly INSANE!

The bathroom is our biggest issue. We had a system:
DD16 up at 6, bus at 6:45
DD11 up at 6:45 bus at 7:30
DD8 up at 7:30 bus at 8:15
If you got up early you had to stay in your room till your time. Two problems...
1-DH, poor man, wakes up at 5:50 to use the bathroom and take a fast shower, if he drags out of bed forget it. He keeps a razor, deodorant, etc at work and has on many occasions had to get ready there.
2- Since hitting pubery, DD11 can't wash her hair at night anymore. So now she has to be in the shower by 7:30 just when DD16 is going her makeup and hair. I bought her a nice mirror for her makeup and a full legnth mirror for her door to straighten her hair but she hates it and wants to do it int the bathroom so, fine, but then she gets mad at the steam. Well, sorry, you can't have everything. So every morning I now hear "why did you buy such a small house," "who buys a house with only one bathroom, "I can't wait till I graduate and can get my own place!" ETC
On the days I substitute I have to get up at 5 to get my sliver of bathroom time.

Course, I am sure if we had a bigger house they'd be able to find something else to bicker out.

I sure hope there is a special place in Heaven for parents of 3 girls with 1 very small bathroom.


Despite it all I missed them terribly today and can't wait for February break. I must be insane!