Is it okay to make my children walk until they beg to come home to bed?

[MotherOfBleach]

Not literally beg of course, I don't want to cause them harm much

The teen has gotten into a habit over the holidays of staying up late and sleeping late. The pre teen has taken to copying her.

This means I have two over tired, hormonal girls who are constantly niggling at each other and me.

I sent them both up to bed early last night to no avail. I got them up early yesterday, they still would not sleep.

I have access to sea air.

They are 13 and 10.

The proposed walk is around 8 miles.

The teen wants to go, but only to go the arcade and if she sees her friends she is pretending she is not with us.

The pre teen wants to paddle on the beach with the dog, but wants to get the bus home and does not want to walk the full length of the beach. Her proposed walk is around 3 - 4 miles.

I will keep them well hydrated.

I was planning lots of stops, arcade stops, ice cream stops, park stops for the 10yo, splashing in the sea with the dog stops etc and a slow wander home, possibly stopping at the chippy on the way and a beer garden stop

They are getting dressed, reluctantly. They were still arguing over You Tube personalities at 1 am this morning. I made them get up at 10am, so they are a bit grumpy and sluggish today.

That doesn't sound so bad. Can I come?

no no no no -you're doing it all wrong. long route march along the beach and arcades as a reward. otherwise once you are done with the arcade they wont budge bitter experience

also don't forget the 2ps

Ah, yes, arcade and pub last.

Walk along the sand, walk home down the prom, via the arcade, pub, chippy.

It works out better for the dog anyway, only well behaved dogs are allowed in the arcade. Our dog has the energy of a collie, combined with brains of a whippet

Tire the dog out then hit the arcades.

perfick :)

You're the parent - just tell them what you're doing and that they are to come. Listen to ways they want to do it (order of arcade, ice cream, route etc), and come up with a nice plan together.

Then off you go. The way you are negotiating with them makes it sound like they are reluctant 16 year olds.

You'll all love it.

are 10 year old girls really hormonal? Isn't she just being a pain in the backside?

The 10yo has ADHD and SEN, so what normally happens is that the 13yo misbehaves, gets into trouble and so sets about niggling at the 10 yo who duly goes off like a rocket, taking the attention away from the 13yo, who then decides she is the spawn of Mother Theresa herself and starts cleaning something or cooking something or volunteering to walk the dog.

The 10yo likes knowing what's coming, which is why I have told her where we are going and when. It will prevent any tantrums when we go "the wrong way" or do x instead of y.

The 13 yo has no behavioural issues, she's just spoiled, as most 13 yo girls do, she believes she is most important person the entire universe household.

It's all very exhausting and ex is as useful as a chocolate teapot, although he does try he is very trying actually