"They" are 4 and will be 2 in January. These two children, I am convinced, hold a world record for number of days in a row in which they do nothing but FIGHT and WHINE. Even better when they can combine fighting and whining.
It is winter. I hate winter. It is below zero or close to it most days now with wind chill. We can't go outside.
"They" have a newborn brother too. He, of course, takes a lot of time and attention lately.
I have started an evening routine and it seems to help. 4 yr old DS attends preschool 4 mornings a week, which is a lifesaver because I can do things with the baby and ONE of the older two.
The last time I took the older 2 to the grocery store, DD pulled DS's hair and made him cry in the car cart.
they do a lot of things that hurt each other now too. And DS didn't used to do things back but now he has started to.
He does not care that it hurts his sister, in fact, that seems to be the intended goal because she has hurt him.
And of course like I said there is the newborn. I can't possibly be everywhere at once stopping everything before it starts.
the 'duh' in this is of course I don't want to spank them for hurting each other. DD seems too young to 'get' time-out. I tried it with DS but well, he didn't SAY it but his actions--he seemed really angry like he thought DD was getting off while he was in trouble. (I can see why.)
What do I do? they can't just continue to do this. They know what they are doing. I've had the whole 'that hurts and we don't hurt people' talk.....
It is winter. I hate winter. It is below zero or close to it most days now with wind chill. We can't go outside.
"They" have a newborn brother too. He, of course, takes a lot of time and attention lately.
I have started an evening routine and it seems to help. 4 yr old DS attends preschool 4 mornings a week, which is a lifesaver because I can do things with the baby and ONE of the older two.
The last time I took the older 2 to the grocery store, DD pulled DS's hair and made him cry in the car cart.
they do a lot of things that hurt each other now too. And DS didn't used to do things back but now he has started to.
He does not care that it hurts his sister, in fact, that seems to be the intended goal because she has hurt him.
And of course like I said there is the newborn. I can't possibly be everywhere at once stopping everything before it starts.
the 'duh' in this is of course I don't want to spank them for hurting each other. DD seems too young to 'get' time-out. I tried it with DS but well, he didn't SAY it but his actions--he seemed really angry like he thought DD was getting off while he was in trouble. (I can see why.)
What do I do? they can't just continue to do this. They know what they are doing. I've had the whole 'that hurts and we don't hurt people' talk.....
