That means there are 2 days tacked on to an already too long to bear weekend when the kids are pushing their sibling relationships to the limit.
Don't get me wrong, I love my little rugrats. But maybe it's the reduced amount of available daylight. Possibly, it's the increased amount of rain. Or there is a slight chance it's the excitement of the upcoming holidays after just crashing from the sugar-high induced by Halloween. It could even be the adjustment to our newly "free from soccer" schedule.
Whatever the reason, they are at each other's throats!
It could be that all of their insanity is a result of the fact that wherever we look, it's already Christmas! It isn't even Thanksgiving yet, and the stores are decorated with lit and decorated trees, there is Christmas music playing and "we have eggnog" is splashed across every espresso stand's sign and has been since the middle of September.
Whatever the reason, my patience is wearing thin. Very, very thin.
Thin like being trapped in an elevator listening to The Chipmunk's Christmas Album!
Yesterday, five minutes after walking in the front door and bringing with them the daily chaos that I've become accustomed to, Wyatt was found lying on the floor crying because his sister slapped him.
"Up to your room," I said to the obvious culprit, who was hovering over him.
After sending her off to "think about what she'd done," I turned to Wyatt.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, but mom -"
That's where I cut him off. You see, I had only left their presence to clean up a mess in the kitchen for a mere moment, and I know he was playing rough with his sister.
Does this make it okay?
No, and she was promptly removed from the situation, given a lecture and a four-minute stay in time-out.
But does he hold at least a little bit of responsibility for having engaged in combat with a fast-handed 4-year-old?
Absolutely.
I can't become involved in every little scuffle between my children. They have to learn how to work it out together. Otherwise I'll be running over to their houses when I'm sixty, breaking up disagreements when I should be lying on a beach in Mexico with my husband, sipping icy cold Coronas!
My friend and I were talking about this the other night. About how sometimes, even though it's hard, we have to let them work it out. They will find their footing with one another if we let them, which leaves more time for us to, well, be parents and focus on the things that really matter!
But if anyone has any tips on how to actually do this, I'd gladly welcome them!
10 comments:
i can honestly say i have NO advice on this one because hannah's an only child and i have yet to have to settle scuffles with her and her siblings. she does fight with her cousins but they're all boys and it usually is cuz they're playing rough and they get yelled at, not her LOL.
I was in the car over the weekend with my niece and nephew (ages 5 and 6) for two 3-hour trips... each car ride was filled with constant bickering, at-each-other's-throats, and calling out "MOM!" or DAD!" to tell on each other. It was crazy!!
So yeah, that's my comment... I have no advice for you... just empathy!!
Jane, Pinks & Blues
they look so happy in that picture! must keep that in mind when they are hitting each other, eh?
here's something to be thankful for. That they don't have the whole WEEK off like we do.
I'm thinking there are solar flares going on. ALL the kids of the world are going crazy right now.
P.S. The new colors look nice! You want to work on a banner?
I had REALLY strict rules about sharing. Everything had to be fair and equal and the same. This cut down some of the reasons for squabbling. It also meant that they now have hypernormal negotiating skills.
An example was choosing seats in the car: son was allowed to choose 'going' to school and daughter 'on the way back'. And then I realised after a couple of years that they always sat in the same seats - but the point is that they knew the rules, chose the seats and never argued about it. Whereas before it was a battle just to get them in the car.
Good luck Carrie - it is just a phase - you can see how much fun they have together.
I find it goes in waves. There are times when my boys get so much enjoyment out of each other, it thrills me to no end to hear them laughing and giggling together. Then there are other times when they are at each other's throats all day, for days on end.
I do try to let them sort things out on their own, but if there's any physical altercation, I break them up right away. No tolerance there.
Heidi
Is it time for "Camp Grammie & Grandpa"? You know, they NEVER argue here.....( I can imagine our time is coming). I do sympathize. You are right to try to let them work it out more often.
Meanwhile, what makes you think we get to sit on the beach without a care now that we are both in our 60's, ? (Not to mention with a Corona. Recently I heard it referred to as 'urine in a glass' . Dos Equis, por favor.) We still think about the entire family when we're gone...probably talk too much about everyone...oh, wait...need to get further away than Oregon, I guess.
Mexico is looking good right about now.
mom
I wish I had some good advice, but I'll be coming around here to get some when my kids are older, lol! I do agree, that they need to work some things out on their own. My mom never gave us a chance to do it, and she does step in, even now.
My son has lost his mind recently, I really think it's in the air. Hopefully, everything will be less crazy for you soon. :)
Awww!!! Great pic of your little ones. I wish I could offer some advice, but I don't have any of my own yet.
I think back about how I used to drive my mom crazy when I'd pick on my brother...I don't know how she handled it without losing her sanity.
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