Please tell me how to get them to listen....

[suziek]

My babes are 4.4, 2.4 and 4 months and lately I've felt like I am growing crazy....My two older boys seem to ignore just about everything I say, or that's how it seems right now. Tonight we were reading and snacking on popcorn, and when we were done, I asked DS 4.4 to please bring the near empty bowl into the kitchen. Instead of trotting off with the bowl the way he sometimes does he stuck his face in it and blew all the remains all over the couch. Argggh. I seem lately to have to say five and seven times, 'to the bathroom to brush those chompers' or 'let's get our shoes on' or 'time to leave fellows', and it isn't until I flash a visual sign of anger or frustration that I get anyone to listen at all. I remember that before the baby was born I would just physically scoop the Mr. 2 up with a cheerful, "off we go to the tub" and Mr 4 would scamper behind. Now I've got one arm taken and Mr. 2 seems too autonomous for that. What to do?

[JJMama]

I only have one hand,but wanted to recommend a book called Kid Cooperation- helped me a lot.

[mamaduck]

Kid Cooperation is a good book. Nice and short and too the point -- and pretty much all very practical suggestions. Made a difference in our lives too!

I think I'd feel a little crazy too if I had 3 kids under 4. I imagine that "crazy" kind of goes with the territory.

The blowing popcorn thing made me laugh! I'm sure I wouldn't have been laughing if it was my couch, but I'm also sure he didn't mean to be bad! Sounds very age appropriate to me.

Do you have a sling for the baby? I think that your kids are still at the age where you have to be active in "helping" them follow instructions. "Put your shoes on now" should be coupled with you moving them toward their shoes or their shoes toward them and actively jump starting the process. A sling would make that easier to do. With the bath scenerio, I would probably take the 2 yo. by the hand and lead him toward the tub, and let the 4 yo. figure out that he needs to scamper along if he wants to be included.