I was chatting at the school yard the other day with a couple of the moms and one of the kindergarten teachers. While we all talked about fearing the upcoming Spring break with all the travails that come with it, one of them said, "I got so frustrated with my two the other day that I just sent them to their rooms". The other moms commiserated and said that while they had done this in the past, they had only done it once or maybe twice at most. I didn't say anything, but I wondered "Is this type of parenting new? Am I a hard-ass? How can they not have to do this more frequently?"...
I regularly send T and C to their rooms. Their constant bickering (he is a control freak while she always tells him she is "indefendent") annoys the hell out of me. The minute it starts, I send them upstairs. If they start up during a meal, I tell them they cannot talk for 5 to 10 minutes (i.e., you cannot talk until the big hand gets to the...[insert number here]). We sometimes spend a drive in the car in stony silence since they cannot stop "pick, pick, picking" at each other. I relish the quiet now...I wish my kids weren't so damn verbal (but then, I guess they wouldn't be my kids now, would they?).
16 comments:
LOL You made me laugh so loud! I did tell you I don't feel alone when I read you. My big girl is talking all the time too and it's annoying me... but when I think of it... She is a lot like me... I'm kind of hoping the baby will be more like her daddy :)You are not the only one in this situation... and well if the other mother go to work during the day... well it's normal it's happening less often in there house!
ROFL.. See for me its my boys THEY are at a stage right now (they are 6 and 10) they CAN NOT get along even if it depended their life on it.. I'm like HUH.. see I can't send them to their room because they are in the same room! so I have to send one to the living room and the other to their room Monday they were fighting over who was going to go to their room!! SO I sent them each into a bathroom! (at least I have 2 of those huh?) Yesterday was who was going to play w/Gabi HELLO... AHHH PEACE AND QUIET.. just a little.. guess that is the fun of having babies huh?... (((HUGS)) Oh and I cracked up w/your post on my blog! lol
It happens often in my house! I usually make one go upstairs and one stay downstairs. Drives me batty!
Or if they are really arguing and annoying me I have them hold hands, sit on the couch and watch the most boring show I can find and they can't talk unless it's to compliment the other.
Yup, I'm a mean mom.
LOL! My boys are 5 and almost 3 - I am waaaay behind! I just discovered a few weeks ago, that sending them to their room is the most brilliant idea in the universe! I have halved the noise levels and endless bickering!
TFS! Good to know that I am not alone ;)
If you don't discipline them now, you will be sorry in a few years. I don't see how sending them to their rooms will hurt them any. And it gives YOU the chance to recover from their constant bickering.
Swedie
I'm totally with you on this...it's how I raised my kids. To me it's the most effective way to make a child understand unnaceptable behavior...and yes...that little break sometimes sure is nice..lol.
LOL! I used to send my kinds to their rooms all the time. I was lucky though because my kids were almost 6 years apart & I had one of each so I never really experienced the bickering or hitting of each other. They kind of got along pretty well.
School work with Jessica was always a battle though & she drove me insane, I couldn't wait till she got out of high school...then she was on her own & ya know what? She amazed me cause she did so well in college. Kids...go figure!
Kinds is supposed to be kids...my fingers got ahead of my brain.
My kids go to their room all the time...it gives everybody a break!!! I think those moms who say they only do it sometimes aren't being completely honest!
I send mines to the room ALL THE DANG TIME!!! He can come out when he is ready, but if he behaves the same way - back into the room he goes.
If we're in the car and they are both going at it, I MAKE the younger one shut his eyes and face the window (which in turn makes him fall asleep) - this is only because the older one is 12, so the younger needs to respect the older one, and if he doesn't "close your eyes and turn your head to the window" is what comes out of my mouth. I used to get all hot blooded, and yelling at both of them.... made me NUTS!!!
This is usually on the way home fr picking up the older one from school. Which is also good, because it becomes his afternoon nap. Ahhhh... when I get home, I'll have at least 1 hour of peace - and then he wakes up and it starts all over again.
**sigh**
Ah, no. It is new-ish, I think, to want to be sooooo PC in dealing with kids, which is such a crock I can't even start my rant here. Seriously. My kids don't really fight yet, per se, since the younger is only 16 months. Although #1 has a real knack for pushing him around already. I do go to your room, no problem.
I am a mean mom I guess, but my 4 year old is always getting frustrated with something and getting ready to have a full blown tantrum and I'm like "nope, don't get frustrated. solve the problem, if you need help ask." If there is still whining I tell him stop now or [toy name here] is going to be mine the rest of the day {month, year, lifetime}. The deprivation method seems to work on him, I'm sure that plenty of those PC moms would be horrified but at least MY kid won't be a holy terror because he never gets punished.
I had to laugh when I read your blog today! I sent mine to her room - this saved her life on more than one occasion!
Why should I suffer because she's tired, or overstimulated or in a bad mood?
We told her to take the noise to her room. It took time, but she eventually learned that whining got her sent away from us while asking nicely got her what she wanted. (She is VERY stubborn!)
I agree with the prior poster; either that mom works outside the home OR she's lyin'!
I would direct you to this gentleman's column (there are 3 on this subject; check his blog):
PC Parents
for insight into the PC-Parents-versus-Well-Adjusted-Parent world! Thanks for the laugh - Zanne
well what ever works for you!!
i have to say sending my oldest to his room really helps me (he has aspergers syndrome) and looks like my other son may have the same thing ~so life in this house is ...... well you can imagine with two autistic boys!!!..it is never quiet ~ and never easy!!
vanessa xx
Allison, I am the same way, you are not along. Even with one child we have moments when we send Sergei in his room.
And those moms maybe were not honest, you know...
Very pretty card Allison! That is one set I have and don't use enough!
I bet I send my kids to their rooms 15 times a day! I have 2 kids, 18 months apart and they both started talking before 1 year. They fight and pick at one another and defend each other bitterly. I love it but, DAMN, my ears are bleeding!
Post a Comment