Thread: Give me strength...

I am so so sick of DS1 & DS2 non-stop arguing And it is non-stop, from the moment they wake up until they go to bed (and even at school when DS1 was still at same school). We've had a rule in place for a few months now that one plays upstairs, the other down and then the next day they swap but even then all they do when they are in the same room (i.e. at the table for dinner, or in bed) is argue and about the stupidest things too

For example:

DS1 went to shop to get a couple of bits for us. When he came back he said "I just seen Mr J (DS2's teacher) at the shop". DS2 then pipes up "no you didn't, stop lying". Which then of course escalated into a full scale arguement, even though I asked DS2 how on earth he would know if DS1 saw his teacher or not since he was at home!

Next example:

DS2 is doing swimming lessons with school at mo. When they first started them they were told they weren't allowed to take goggles. DS2 said last week that they are allowed to take them now to which DS1 pipes up "no you're not allowed to take them" which then esclated into another full scale arguement...DS1 doesn't even go to the same school never mind in the same class so there's no chance of him knowing what DS1 is or isn't allowed to take.

They just seem to have to argue for the sake of it and I am so fed up of it

Feel better now I've had my rant

Knock their heads together for them.

I don't think there is any way out of it. My two do it too, although some of the time they do love each other and it is possible for them to play nicely together. Maybe once a week they will actually play collaboratively. Sometimes I take the approach of indiscriminately and heavy handedly punishing both at any sign of an argument, never mind who started it or escalated it, and hope there is a germ of brotherly love and solidarity somewhere in there...

Agree with that PowerJen.

When mine used to argue all the time (well out of the 3 of them 2 might be at it) I used to tell them both off together at same time and wasn't bothered what or who had caused it. Used to pull my hair out... Over the years I have realised they grow up and now and again the two youngest may have a little quarrell but nothing major. They dont fight or bash things up just swear real bad which is where I got it from!

Even in the car on major journeys they would argue that they were looking through each others bloody windows! So, we would say you look out of the left window, you the right and the middle seat son would have the front window.....god the things we do to make those 6hr journers easier.
x

my two never argue....
I blame your poor parenting :grin:

tis normal Hids, 5 years from now, they will be covering for each other

It would help if your 2 lived in the same house Tilly

They used to be closer and they would cover for each other & gang up on poor DD1 together but now all we see them give each other is hatred We do punish both of them no matter who starts, unless it starts getting physical (95% of the time DS1 will smack DS2) and then it's a more severe punishment for that.

Tonight they both lost an hour from their bedtime because they just would not quit arguing at the dinner table

K&P do this too, i could have written your examples. they cannot be in the same room as each other, its the reason i dont have a spare room.

they try to interfere in each others business to much, i often find myself saying to Kitty 'so what if Pip wants to ....bla bla.....what difference does it make to you? if she is doing something she shouldnt, leave her to it'



raah

Same here with my two. Fred knows exactly what buttons to press to wind Alfie up and Alfie whines in this awful high pitched 'baby-voice' which drive me up the wall

As a result Fred feels victimised because I end up shouting at him because all I hear is Alfie whining!

Another ditto here. In fact just yesterday when I picked Imogen up, Alex was already in the car and the moment she stepped into the car they were at it! So I shouted at them as every good parent would (!) - made them sit in silence all the way back to think about how not to argue with each other once we were home. It worked for that evening - the journey was 45 minutes tho - lol

I suspect it's alot harder to control once they get older - really looking forward to that.

And another ditto from me, too ...... bloody kids!

Ours is towards the end of being solved now though, DD1 is moving out next week!

Hids, you're doing everything you can be doing, barring one thing ...... Boots sell some terrific earplugs xx