I am a separated mother of three, and the last few days have been very trying. My kids are seven, four, & two. The older two are boys and the youngest is a girl. Their names are Joseph, Caleb, and Ruthie.
So on Friday, my two boys got in a fight with two of the neighborhood boys because my oldest one wanted my younger one to win a foot race. That makes the second fight they've been in this week. I am never sure the right way to handle a situation like this. Both times, I brought all the children involved inside and asked them individually what had happened step by step. The first time, I told the mother of the child who instigated it. And, grounded my kids from playing with him for a couple of days. I thought that would help, but obviously not because a few days later, the second fight happened. So this time, after talking to all of them again, I told them they could go back and play-if they could play nice. But, who knows how long that will last?
Then, yesterday, my oldest went, with the same two neighborhood boys he was in the fight with the day before, to yet another neighbor's house while they weren't home. For some reason, these boys decided it was a good idea to go into that man's fence and play soccer. Did I mention this man has three dogs in said fence, including a rottweiler? So, of course the dogs got after the boys, and the father of one of them had to save them, getting himself bit in the process. So, more grounding. And, he had to apologize to the neighbors, both the one whose yard he went in and the one who got bit.
The bad thing about them being grounded is it puts them in the house all day with nothing to do but get in trouble. So, being grounded for last night and all of today resulted in things like chocolate syrup all over my kitchen floor, shaving cream in my daughter's face and all over the bedroom floor, fingernail polish in my daughter's hair and on her brother's bedroom floor, a broken bed frame, lots of spilled drinks, a few bite marks, which sadly weren't left just by my two-year old, melted ice cream, and a flooded bathroom. So, what do I do as a punishment for these things? Reward them by sending them out to play so they can't tear anything else up, or ground them even longer, which will inevitably lead to more destruction?
This is just an example of the things that happen on a regular basis with my three kids. Are other people's kids this wild? How do you adequately discipline them without making yourself crazy? Will they ever outgrow it? I can definitely say though that at the end of the day, I love them enough that, even with all the messes, I wouldn't trade them for anything. All it takes is a hug, or a smile, or an "I love you, Mama," to make it all go away. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments section. Thanks. :)
So on Friday, my two boys got in a fight with two of the neighborhood boys because my oldest one wanted my younger one to win a foot race. That makes the second fight they've been in this week. I am never sure the right way to handle a situation like this. Both times, I brought all the children involved inside and asked them individually what had happened step by step. The first time, I told the mother of the child who instigated it. And, grounded my kids from playing with him for a couple of days. I thought that would help, but obviously not because a few days later, the second fight happened. So this time, after talking to all of them again, I told them they could go back and play-if they could play nice. But, who knows how long that will last?
Then, yesterday, my oldest went, with the same two neighborhood boys he was in the fight with the day before, to yet another neighbor's house while they weren't home. For some reason, these boys decided it was a good idea to go into that man's fence and play soccer. Did I mention this man has three dogs in said fence, including a rottweiler? So, of course the dogs got after the boys, and the father of one of them had to save them, getting himself bit in the process. So, more grounding. And, he had to apologize to the neighbors, both the one whose yard he went in and the one who got bit.
The bad thing about them being grounded is it puts them in the house all day with nothing to do but get in trouble. So, being grounded for last night and all of today resulted in things like chocolate syrup all over my kitchen floor, shaving cream in my daughter's face and all over the bedroom floor, fingernail polish in my daughter's hair and on her brother's bedroom floor, a broken bed frame, lots of spilled drinks, a few bite marks, which sadly weren't left just by my two-year old, melted ice cream, and a flooded bathroom. So, what do I do as a punishment for these things? Reward them by sending them out to play so they can't tear anything else up, or ground them even longer, which will inevitably lead to more destruction?
This is just an example of the things that happen on a regular basis with my three kids. Are other people's kids this wild? How do you adequately discipline them without making yourself crazy? Will they ever outgrow it? I can definitely say though that at the end of the day, I love them enough that, even with all the messes, I wouldn't trade them for anything. All it takes is a hug, or a smile, or an "I love you, Mama," to make it all go away. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments section. Thanks. :)
I have some wisdom to which I'd be happy to share with you as you are now at your wits end ( for readers, I am these children's MAMAW) so call me if you'd like me to share.
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