Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To get so stressed about my kids’ car behaviour

229 replies

theremightbesevennow · 07/08/2026 16:07

There is a lot of unbuckling of seatbelts and climbing all over the car, screaming, fighting and general manic behaviour. They don’t do this alone either, it’s only when they are both together. And I’ve no idea how to deal with it (the usual tactics just haven’t worked.)

I can’t just refuse to drive anywhere as we’d never leave the house (rural.)

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Lostthetastefordahlias · 07/08/2026 16:13

What ages are they? Mine respond well to an audiobook and we have a few toys/ fidgets and books they only look at in the car. Have you tried just pulling over for 5 minutes every time they do this (on a day you’re not going anywhere urgently) they may just get bored? Otherwise I would just go for general disciplinary consequences (if you can’t show me you can behave nicely, you won’t be able to go to x/ visit x’s house/ have x over/ watch your programme, or pull over when they do this plus say if you make my day very difficult with your behaviour I won’t have time to read you a book/ make you dessert/ take you swimming etc)

chocoluv · 07/08/2026 16:11

How old are they?

Do you ever let one sit in the front?

I’d firstly start by threatening about whoever is better behaved can be the first one to sit in the front seat.

HeCouldNotWouldNotOnABike · 07/08/2026 16:11

How old are they?
What do they say?
What do you say?

Ilikealltings · 07/08/2026 16:11

What have you tried? Ages of the kids?