I have 3 DC, 9, 5 and 3. They are generally lovely kids, receive lots of glowing praise for behaviour at school, try hard, remember their manners and are kind and loving. But. Recently they have been squabbling so much and it is driving me to distraction. The eldest is a wind up, the youngest still loves a strop and the middle one has taken to screeching when the other two do anything that annoy her. It is so so irritating and grating. I can feel my mood nosedive when it starts. The unexpected screeching in particular really gets me.
I am quite noise sensitive and don't like conflict- grew up in a very dysfunctional family where fallings out result in people not speaking to one another for years- so I find the whole thing quite triggering.
Clearly this is largely a 'me' issue with I guess what is a bit of an internal-emotional overreaction- almost fight or flight like. However I do also believe constant squabbling - winding up, stropping and screeching is unacceptable, even at these ages. I have explained this to them several times, explained (in age appropriate language) the impact it has on me and people around us and implemented consequences for the behaviour- time away from one another, early night if it's a consequence of tiredness and even on a couple of occasions turned the car around and driven home/left the park early if warnings are not heeded.
Am I OTT? Is there anything else I can do to try to reduce the squabbling and/or manage my reaction to it? And if not, can someone please tell me it is a phase?!?!