My children are ruining Christmas!

[Munted]

I have 2 DS's, aged 7 and nearly 4 and BY GOD they are slowly but surely killing my festive buzz.

Constant fighting, bickering, throwing things, charging around, winding each other up, screeching, singing stupid songs, whining....

I know they're over excited about Christmas and missing the structure of school (7 year old broke up 10 days ago) but I'm so tired of telling them off, trying to to get them to calm down, refereeing etc.I have a cold and am feeling exhausted after organising everything for Christmas and my DH is in a permanent grump because he feels the same but has a far lower tolerance than me for poor behavior, so I'm trying to keep him calm too.

Aaaggghhhhhhhh! I swear I loved Christmas before I had children

[ChristmasTreeCat]

Mine were a bit like this at the start of the week. I have been loving the dry weather as I've taken them to the park every morning for a couple of hours. Home for lunch, then quiet craft/reading/baking/TV in the afternoon. It's all the pent up excitement coupled with exhaustion after a long term for mine.

[Makinglists]

I feel your pain - I trade you my bickering 10 and 6 year old DSs - on their own their lovely together its hell.
Roll on 2 Jan....

[Bundao]

I have a 7 year old and a 4 year old. They are being a total nightmare. Someone is always bothering someone else, taking someone's something, calling each other a baby etc etc, followed by someone screaming. I swear they sound like two cats in a washing machine! The worst thing is I'm taking them both to my mum's the day after boxing day. That's a 6 hour drive and two flights, including one flIght of 11 hours. I'm not sure how I'm going to cope. I've warned my mum of the bomb that's coming but she has self inflcited, rose-tinted, grandma goggles on and keeps talking about kids theatre, museums and kid friendly places to go. She's in for a rude awakening! They don't go back to school until February as we're now on our summer break!

[HighDataUsage]

You could do what my hard nosed friend does and cross off an item off their Christmas list and not give it to them on Christmas day every time they misbehave. One year her kids only received two gifts from a twelve gift wish list because their behaviour was appalling. They were told that Santa regifted their presents to other more well behaved children and if they want more gifts they know what to do. This year they will receive ten gifts from a twelve gift wish list so it has certainly worked for her but then there are two more days to go.....
This only works for Santa believers.

[longdiling]

Ah yes, this is part of the madness of Christmas. Social media encourages us to whip them into a frenzy with fancy advent calendars, magical Elves, memory making days out and a load of Christmas crafting and baking. They are completely beside themselves by this stage. I have found myself dialling back on the crazy Christmas run up every year. My lot can't handle it. The added bonus is that I'm less exhausted because I'm not running around like a mad woman organising stuff.

You're on the home stretch op, hopefully you'll get some peace on Christmas day when they're busy with their presents

[Bungleboggs]

Two 6 years olds killing each other constantly here!! You aren't alone,

[2014newme]

Book them into holiday club for a day of peace for you

[Munted]

So I'm not alone?!

Who are these children who will happily 'snuggle up under a Christmas blanket' and watch Christmas movies while drinking hot chocolate?? Mine would be screeching within seconds 'he's touching meeeeee', 'I can't seeeeeeee', 'I don't want this oooooooone' etc etc

It's no wonder I've got a drinking problem...

[NoCapes]

I'm sending my lot to a soft play with a childless family member this morning (she doesn't know what she's letting herself in for )
They've all just got too much bloody energy atm and no amount of paper snowflakes or tree shaped biscuits is going to help, get them out and run them ragged OP!

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

You need need to wear them out! Get them out in the fresh air for a couple of hours at least every day. It's the only way ime.

[PinkSwimGoggles]

go out. let them run off steam in the park, climb trees etc.
then you can snuggle up with a film afterwards and you all will feel better!

[MimiLeBonk]

My friend wraps empty boxes and throws one on the fire every time someone misbehaves

[Salmotrutta]

Mimi that's a brilliant idea you friend has! Of course if you don't have a fire you could "send it back to Santa" some other way?

[Purplebluebird]

Ah, times like this makes me feel very pleased I have 1 child rather than 2+ :p
I hope they find the kind Christmas spirit soon though!

[Glittermakeseverythingbetter]

We pulled our first Christmas crackers yesterday. Then my 8 and 12 year old argued over who got to keep the plastic spinning top that came out of MY cracker There was lots of screeching and whining.
They argued over Christmas crackers last year too!
My 12 year old has wanted a full itinerary of activities every day since they broke up from school, we've done loads but not any 'big day out' trips so apparently city trips and a house party we hosted with her friends etc aren't quite good enough!

[Haudyerwheesht]

I feel for you, mine are the same and are 6 and 10 (today). 6 year old is in a mood because it is not her birthday and her brother gets presents before Christmas. Can I help that? No! is it the same every year? Yes!

Newly 10 year old barely slept last night so is in a foul mood and I hardly slept either so I'm not much better tbh!

[Nowombattheinn]

Yes it's the same here - wrecking the house every time my back is turned. They seem to have broken up from school quite a bit before Christmas this year so there have been more days to fill.
I agree getting them out for a long walk or run around to burn off the excess energy. Only today and tomorrow until the hyper stops and hopefully new toys will keep them occupied (and we can drink in the daytime, yey!)

[Moonraker37]

Yep same here OP. You are not alone. Constant nicking, wrestling, etc etc I resort to ear plugs. It's hard.

[wigglesrock]

My two younger kids (9 and 5) are still in school until 12 today - it has its advantages - we've had a lovely build up. My eldest finished a few days ago - she's lounged about, had lie ins, seen her friends, helped with shopping, wrapping.

One of mine has a Halloween birthday - we have moaning about how she gets presents for Halloween and the others don't

[Helloooooitsme]

Quiet craft in the afternoon? That has never happened in my home. More like get everything out, make a huge mess of glue and glitter everywhere, argue over the glue and the glitter, then get bored after 5 minutes max and leave it to me to clear up.

[Equimum]

Mine are only 1 and 4, but the 4 year old is insane with excitement (he's a very excitable child anyway). He keeps winding the toddler up and it's just constant chaos here. DH is threatening to book a long haul business trip in the run-up to Christmas next year . For this year, he's taking them to the park for a few hours today so I can clear up some of the mess here!

[VivienneWestwoodsKnickers]

What would exhaust them? Take them swimming? Run them on leads behind the car?

[SittingDrinkingTea]

Another vote for get them out the house. Are you within driving distance of a beach? We often go to the seaside at this time, there's something slightly magical about running around on a windswept beach then stopping off for chips while everyone else is frantically Christmasing.

[educatingarti]

Is your dh at home? Can you divide and conquer. One takes one of them out to park or whatever while other stays at home with #2. Then swap roles. Insist on each child going out despite moans. Tell them their behaviour is telling you they need to be outside for some exercise/ fresh air.

[TooStressyForMyOwnGood]

Ha! I also wonder who these children are who will sit and watch Xmas movies! To be fair, mine are collapsed in front of the telly now but I am taking them out in a bit as staying in all day doing Xmas crafts is just not an option (tried that on Tuesday!).