defiant – Mummy To Twins Plus One

The book that holds the magic formula. Getting kids to behave. Image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Have you found the magic formula for disciplining your kids? I wish I had. Kids have been little terrors lately and I feel it is the age and the need for more stimulation. I could be wrong but I am trying to believe this. No one listens to mummy, kids don’t do anything they are told or asked to do and as you might imagine, Mummy is over it and exhausted!

I have tried chores, incentives, and the like and all seem not to work. I have tried making it a game and getting them to help with small things, like wiping the table. It does work to a degree then goes pear shaped. Is it the competitiveness between the kids? Is it the fact that they are so close and want to do the same thing at the same time? Maybe it is.

I do feel though that the girls now they are five are pushing boundaries and seeing where it gets them. Mostly this pushing boundaries gets them into trouble. Time out in the corner, no TV, no story or an early bedtime.

Is is due to the fact that they are twins? Pairing up to be mischievous more? Maybe? But siblings have done the same thing, so maybe it is not just down to being twins. Having a buddy in crime is helpful for the kids but annoying for the parent.

Do you have twins? Have you found the age of four to five troublesome? The girls are getting much more confident with their climbing and are little quiet ninjas when they want to not be found out. I do find it hard not to be amazed at how clever they are, but at the same time they are getting into trouble and some of it might cause injury.

I have explained to the girls how some things are very naughty and can cause one or both of them to get hurt. We always say “We don’t want to have to take you to hospital” and the kids don’t want to go, so they start to listen. Kids I know are rough and tumble and getting hurt here or there is part of the cause, but you don’t want it to more serious than a bump or a scratch.

Do you have issues with kids listening, paying attention and doing as you ask? If you have cracked the magic formula to make it all work, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! Send in your comments.

NO You Cannot!

Why is it that I have one child that as soon when I say “No” to she immediately sees this as an invitation to go off and get or do what she has been told not to. I spent an entire day yesterday running around dealing with her actions after I told her “No!”, she is so headstrong she does not see that there is anything wrong with what she does. I explain that she cannot do it or have it due to being dangerous, we have already done it and she has had her limit of treats or it is not the right time i.e. just before bed time she wants to do a project or have a lolly.

Today is no different and over the years this has been the case, however she is getting more and more strong willed and difficult to deal with. I give time outs, and punishments and when very dangerous I intervene and give a little tap on the bum but that is about it. Maybe it is personality that is driving this defiance? I am not sure, the other girl does a bit of this but not like the one that sees bucking the system and defying the NO to create a YES as a playful exercise or a bit of fun! This little girl decides that she wants it and no one will stand in her way. A great attitude to have but very annoying as a mother and a parent.I know this will come in handy throughout life but at the same time she needs to understand when to listen to people.

Do you have this issue? How have you dealt with it? Why do some kids power through your NO’s and never listen to a word you say? Gosh it is exhausting. I am attempting to clean the house or at least have it a little tidier and all I have done is played with kids, did some drawings with them, put on a load of washing and hung it out, blew bubbles and made a new bubble mixture, and of course written some blog posts so not too bad on that front, now the girls are blowing party blowers but the paper has perished and now it is the noise of ducks I am listening to (not ideal with a headache in one eye).

I am off to let them run around in the sprinkler to cool down a little as it is getting hotter as I type. Maybe once they are cooler they might settle a little? I can only live in hope. Send in your comments.

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