All they do is argue with each other. They just bicker back and forth, back and forth. If she isn't telling on him, he's telling on her and the other one always says "No i didn't!! He did....." ugh!

How do i get them to just shut up?! Every morning they fight, it is such a bummer to start every day on a negative note!

Any ideas on how to get them to just get along? My little "let's be nice" jar is apparently not working anymore.

By Samkar on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 07:57 pm:

I'm sorry I can't help you but when you get help I would love to read it too. I have the same thing here. First thing before I get out of bed I can here the fighting. It puts me in a bad mood as soon as I get up.

Anyone out there please help us!!!!!

By Jewlz on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 08:44 pm:

This is how I treated spring fever. Its an atitude with in the house hold ... least thats how I looked at it. if they woke up argueing then they would go to bed and id calmly tell the kids that they because they are fighting I presume they are not getting enough sleep and are grumpy. Then If I had to deal with it more Id show them how it felt to hear the argueing. Yes I know not many will do this but sometimes examples go along way. Id also make them do chores together and spend more time together and the more they fought the more time they earned together. One time it got so bad I made them hold paper between thier noses and tole them no laffin allowed. They looked at me and said Yeah right. like they would laff. lol in ten minutes they were. and if the argueing is taking up more time to stop them from getting dressed ontime ... then u get them up earlier. they will soon realize whats going on. and quiet time or start working it out amongst themselves

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 09:05 pm:

I like your ideas Jewlz!!

By Tink on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 09:45 pm:

I really like your ideas, too, Jewlz! I've noticed that my kids get into a habit of arguing and bickering so I try to keep them busy and separate so they have less opportunity to argue for a couple of days. If one of them is playing a video game in the living room, the other is helping me make dinner in the kitchen. By the time I'm sick of keeping them apart, they've gotten out of the habit of picking at each other. {{{Patti}}} I bet you're especially sick of this after not feeling well.

By Conni on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 08:06 am:

Ditto... I keep mine seperated or I make them do more chores. I dont tell them I am making them do more chores. I just get out the swiffer and say 'Hey, ds #1, I really could use help swiffering the floor!' 'Ds #2, would you be so kind as to take out all the trash in the house for me please?' 'Little one, here is a damp rag, please start wiping down the blinds in the kitchen for Mom!' They stop arguing and my house gets cleaner...


Now when we are in the car that is a real crummy time. lol Mine dont usually argue when getting ready. They are pretty quiet in the morning. (usually)

Mine can certainly drive me crazy lately too. I think maybe it is the time of yr. Plus they are doing testing at school, etc... That's never any fun and makes for a long dull day.

I hope yours straighten up, I know you are feeling miserable lately and it doesnt help when they are being toots.

By Debbie on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 08:13 am:

Mine have been bickering a lot lately too. I think it is the cold weather and being confined inside the house way too long!

We have a jar in the kitchen, when they start fighting, they each have to put a quarter in. When they are nice to each other, I give a quarter back. It usually works. If they keep it up then I send them each into their rooms. Usually after a little while, they are begging to come out and play nicely with each other.

I am lucky that mine usually get along. I think they have just had cabin fever the last few weeks.

By Luvn29 on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 08:21 am:

Well, we have kind of a "different" household. I have been "sick" since my dd was in kindy and my ds was a baby. So they know I have a set amount of energy. They have seen my at my worst where I have been unable to do anything and just getting up to read them a bedtime story and tuck them into bed was a struggle so they take nothing with me for granted anymore.

However, I am more "normal" right now than they have seen me in a long time. Unfortunately, that is slowly going downhill, but the kids aren't being told the extent of this at this time. So anyhow, they bicker more now.

The kids know I have "x" amount of energy to spend. They also know that it takes more of my energy to take care of something negative than positive. So when I am having to deal with them doing something negative I remind them that they are choosing for me to use my energy for something negative which means I won't have enough energy for something positive. This quickly solves problems on their own. They would much rather see me using my energy on doing positive things with them. So now, if I hear something starting, I can simply ask them positive or negative?

I think if done in the right way, this could be used in any household. All moms only have a certain amount of extra energy to spend. We all feel worse and feel drained when we have to constantly nag or get onto our children for this and that. I physically cannot come up with more energy once all of mine has been used, and my children have seen more than once the negative effects of this, so it is very real to them. But other moms can just as easily say, no, I can't play that game with you because I told you, I spent all of my energy getting on to you and your brother because you couldn't get along. I have no positive energy left. I'm sorry. We'll try again tomorrow.

By Samkar on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 08:48 am:

Thank you guys sooo much. I will try some ideas after school. Hope they work. I never thought about it draining me, but your right I feel like I have no energy when I have been stoping the fighting all day. I will also give them a good talk about it. They are 7 & 10 they will understand. It also hurts my little one who is 3 because she only has mommy because the other 2 are always at it. Thanks again for the help.