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whining - Page 2  

post #21 of 31
Quote:
Originally Posted by theirmomjayne View Post
My back hurts so bad. This happens only 3-4 times per year, but when it happens, I am out of commission. It will probably be better tomorrow, but now I cannot do anything. I was able to fix a simple dinner, but that's it. I am disappointed that the boys will not help me clean up the table (put the dishes in the sink.) I sat them down and told them that mommy's back hurts so much and I need their cooperation. They just don't care. :

I'm so glad I have a patient husband. He knows about my back today and knows the boys are not helping me (I left him a note.)

I am sorry that your back is hurting.


Pat
post #22 of 31
After reading, I think that this may be a slightly different situation, but when dd whines, it seems to push some button in me so that I don't want to help her at all. I feel mean and grouchy. So, I'll ask her sometimes to say it in a different way or tone (being careful of my own tone!), or perhaps suggest a wacky, over-elaborate wording, such as "Most marvelous and beauteous maternal parent, would you be willing to aid me in my endeavor to..." Usually we both get the giggles and are in a better frame of mind to address finding a solution.
post #23 of 31
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WuWei View Post
Is the 7 year old using the pull up, or is the 7 year old responsible for the diaper of another child? If the 7 year old is still using a pull up, is there a developmental delay that interferes with him remembering to do that type of forethought/planning with a soiled diaper? Could you have a diaper pail upstairs? We had a diaper pail in the bathroom upstairs and in ds's bedroom until he was toileting consistently. If you are expecting him to provide for the child care needs of a younger sibling, I believe that is your responsibility, not his.

I believe that if *I* want something clean, I am happy to make it clean.

Pat
My 7 yr old still wets the bed at night so he wears a pull-up. We don't make a big deal of this otherwise. (My 3 yr old also wears a pull-up to bed, but since he still needs help dressing in the morning, the throwaway isn't an issue....and when I ask him to do it, he does it.)

I don't see why he cannot remember to bring it downstairs to the trash. Again, he just doesn't seem to care. No, there are no developmental issues.


My parents used to yell and scream about a messy house.....but despite all the yelling and screaming and occasional consequences, the house stayed messy. I think my mom just gave up. Two of my adult brothers still live at home, and the place is still a mess! I don't want to yell anymore, and I haven't in several days......but I can't help but feel they are getting off scot-free.

I guess my choices are: 1) live with a messy home 2) clean it up myself. Deep down, I feel that I'm teaching my boys that mom is there to clean up after them. I hope they don't treat their wives like this.

I asked my husband how his parents handled this. (His mom worked outside the home at a time when most mothers did not.) He said that he doesn't remember ever NOT cleaning up after himself. He said his room got cluttered but "Friday was cleaning day" and everyone did their chores and their own room.
post #24 of 31
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dulce de leche View Post
After reading, I think that this may be a slightly different situation, but when dd whines, it seems to push some button in me so that I don't want to help her at all. I feel mean and grouchy. So, I'll ask her sometimes to say it in a different way or tone (being careful of my own tone!), or perhaps suggest a wacky, over-elaborate wording, such as "Most marvelous and beauteous maternal parent, would you be willing to aid me in my endeavor to..." Usually we both get the giggles and are in a better frame of mind to address finding a solution.

haha That's cute!
post #25 of 31
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WuWei View Post
I am sorry that your back is hurting.


Pat

Could you come over and do my dishes?
Just kidding!
post #26 of 31
I'm wondering...if asking them all the time to do things they don't want to do, and not caring that they don't want to do it, leads to them not wanting to help when you *really* need help, like now, when your back hurts?

I'm just wondering aloud...I don't ask much in the way of cleaning from my kids--I don't scurry around behind them cleaning, but, you know, when I'm doing laundry I ask if they have any in their rooms, or when I'm doing dishes I ask if there are any dishes in the basement, when I fold the clothes I ask them to take their piles next time they go that direction, that sort of thing...I asked them each to sweep a room tonight, because grandma's coming tomorrow, and I'm barfing...and they not only each swept a room, but they also each vaccuumed a room, plus dd folded and put away all the laundry. They're great helpers when they know there's a need. I suppose I could complain that their dishes were left in the basement, but I'd rather be happy they'll bring them up when I ask. I could complain that the laundry never makes it off their floors...but instead I'm happy that when I ask for it, it all finds it's way to the laundry room...

I guess I have nothing helpful to add to this thread--I am just really happy that my kids are helping me out when I'm sick, and I love them to death

Dana
Unschooling mama to Lauren, 15, Otto, 9.5, and new little one due in May!
post #27 of 31
You have gotten a lot of great responses so far, so I'll do a long-term approach to the situation. It won't cure the whining immediately, but it will definitely get your kids to do more. This works with my hubby who will NOT do anything he's asked to do and whines like a toddler.

Sometimes. Just SOMETIMES he'll do something without whining or without me asking him to. It's rare, but it happens. When these things happen, I act so excited. I let my eyes light up and I clasp my hands together and do my best cute animated expression with a ghaspy "oh my GOSH! I can't believe how awesome you are! You are so sweet, I'm so lucky to have you. What a great guy! What would you like as a treat?"

I make it seem like he's just been told his cancer is benign or something and it gives him a dumb sheepish grin. It makes him much more likely to want to do something in the future, just because it makes me so happy and gets me so excited. It's taken some time, but it's been working and he's been doing things without me asking more and more.
post #28 of 31
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dana Hoffman View Post
I'm wondering...if asking them all the time to do things they don't want to do, and not caring that they don't want to do it, leads to them not wanting to help when you *really* need help, like now, when your back hurts?

good question!
post #29 of 31
Thread Starter 
Thank you for that suggestion.


One of my boys actually did all his schoolwork today with only ONE whine comment, "No, Im not gonna do it!" but he did it all anyway.
post #30 of 31
Could you have a family meeting to discuss this and brainstorm solutions? Talk about how you're needing more help keeping the house clean, and you know they don't like to do a lot of the things you ask them to do, but you know if you work together you can all find a solution? Ask them if they can think of ways to make keeping the house clean easier for everyone?

I know that even with my 8 year old, something like cleaning up Legos is overwhelming. The kids really need help with something like cleaning up the Legos, picking up a couple of thousand really tiny pieces is kind of a tedious thing that takes a long time (my kids dump them out onto the floor to be able to find what they need). One thing that makes it easier is to have them dump them onto a blanket, so we can use the blanket to dump them back into the bucket. Even I hate cleaning the Legos. So when my kids resist picking up Legos, the thing to do is to either do it with them or say "okay, if you clean up [something else] I'll do the Legos."

Also, I'm thinking that the way I phrase things matters a lot. "You dumped all these books out, you need to pick them back up" tends to create resistance. It helps to phrase things more like "I see that the books are all over the floor. I'm concerned that they'll get ruined/someone could trip/whatever. Will you please pick them up?/please pick them up/would you be willing to pick them up with me?" (Making a genuine request, which means I will take no for an answer, also leads to my kids' generally being more willing to agree to my requests.) eta that this isn't just using nice words in order to get my kids to do what I want them to do, but about expressing genuine feelings and needs, owning my own feelings, not blaming, and most importantly creating connection between us. That connection is what allows us to give freely, finding more peace and cooperation.

It also helps to take into account not only what's overwhelming, but what chores are really just things they really dislike. I find my kids are a lot more willing to help out when they have choice about how to participate in the care of the house.

With things like clearing off the table after dinner, it took some time to make that routine but making it routine was the key. Now it's habit, after every meal each child clears their spot-putting dishes into the sink or dishwasher. Occasionally they need a reminder, but there's no resistance. It does take patience to make it routine.

It helps to express genuine, clear/specific appreciation for the help my kids give me. "Thank you for cleaning up those Legos, I appreciate your help. Having your help makes keeping the house clean much easier for me/it was much faster with your help/etc."

With things like your son's pull-up, is it possible that even though you think he should remember that he actually doesn't? Is it possible that he doesn't want to carry a wet pull-up (I can imagine my dd really disliking the feel or smell of a heavily wet pull-up)? I find that whenever there's an ongoing struggle over something, it helps to set aside my ideas of what the problem is and ask my child what the problem is--at a calm, later time. "Can we talk about something? I've noticed that you haven't been bringing your pull-up downstairs in the morning. What's up?" And if he says he forgot: "You forget to bring it downstairs. I understand. My concern is that if you leave the pull-up upstairs, your room will get smelly. Can you think of some ways we can solve this problem?" Getting my kids involved in problem-solving and really taking the time to understand their concerns really helps us. You could do the same thing with school work: "I've noticed that lately you've been saying you don't want to do your school work. What's up?" Work at understanding what his concern/reason for refusing the school work is. Maybe he just prefers to do other things, the school work isn't as fun--and if so, maybe there are ways to make school work more fun. Or maybe the reason is something else entirely.

Books that have really helped me communicate and problem-solve better with my kids are Nonviolent Communication, Connection Parenting, Repectful Parents, Respectful Kids, How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk.

I hope your back is feeling better soon.
post #31 of 31
Thread Starter 
Thank you for the additional comments. I think you are right about a routine....I have fallen out of routines, and it would be better for all of us to get back into them! I am currently reading "Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline" It seems so far like a pep talk...but that's what I need.

My back is still out but I've been able to think about a lot of things and practice patience with myself and my children. My husband has been good to me. I think he is a saint in the making!

If you pray, I ask for your continued prayers. Thank you!
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