Just walked out on kids

I did this with my 2, sat in my car for half hour. When I got back they had stopped, they thought I'd gone to the shops 😆

They'll be fine. They need to learn that everyone has a breaking point.

Do you have a hose? Maybe you can squirt them with that every time they argue.

You probably shouldn’t leave them alone too long though. Sorry you’re struggling. They do sound like hard work. Arguing over a face towel?!

You’ve never forgiven her? Wow. I feel sorry for her.

It’s fine, OP, calm down and then go back and hopefully they will be suitably chagrined.

Go home! You are the adult, you can not behave like a child then expect your children to behave! It’s hard! We all know it’s hard and tough but you just put up with it because you decided to have children and children argue.

There is no set legal minimum age to leave a child home alone in the UK, but the law states it is an offense to leave a child if it places them at risk. Official guidelines from the NSPCC advise that children under 12 are rarely mature enough to cope with an emergency and should not be left alone for long periods

This.

Have a beather, calm yourself down and then go back in.

Mine are a few years older now but they bicker worse when there's a parent around to referee. They're much better on their own.

9 is old enough for a short time at home. Some walk home from school at that age and 12 is no issue.

They're also old enough to understand that their behaviour affects other people.

And presuming you are otherwise a loving and present parent, they won’t be thinking you’ve abandoned them and aren’t coming back. They’ll hopefully be thinking oh shit, we’ve annoyed mum so much she’s going to be pissed off when she comes back, maybe we should stop being a pair of idiots. You’re only human and you’ve reached the end of your tether this morning. Breathe.

9 and 12 is fine to be left for half an hour while you gather what’s left of your patience OP. Summer holidays are a bastard and that’s a tricky age. Take a breather, maybe get a nice coffee and/or treat from a local shop, go home and sit in the car outside until you’ve decompressed. Then go in and sit them down for a talk about how their bickering impacts you and ask them if they can think of any ways to get along with each other for the next couple of weeks! You’ve got this mama.

Well unless they’ve got another adult at home with them then you probably need to go home.
Siblings bicker. I have known very few who don’t. Mine get on really well but still bicker about the most mundane, unimportant things. I felt better about it when I read that siblings bickering is an importation part of learning about conflict resolution for adulthood.
I only intervene if anyone else is being affected by it. Otherwise I tune out.

Have you left them with another adult, at least?

Are they home alone?

You need to head back. Sit them both down and explain this behaviour is impacting you and the family terribly and if they cant speak kindly to each other they must stay out of each others way for a while

Is there another adult at home, as 9 is young to he left alone. Although mine fight like crazy too. So i don't blame you for being upset. Maybe a family day out, as i find mine dont fight as much outside the home.

My mum did this to me when I was 8

I have never forgiven her.

What to her was getting a few moments peace , was to me , a child, my mother abandoning me

Go home OP, deep breaths