WWYD - preventing chaos in the car!!

[TeaAndAMarmiteSandwhich]

So we r in the car on way to holiday. Kids initially excited, then DS age 7 says "I'm bored". Daddy said, ok let's play a game, who can spot the red car first. We have played this before and every time it ends in tears as both DS 6 and DS 3 like to win, but there can only be one person to spot the car first.

Anyway, heart sank. But I didn't know what to do - couldn't suddenly intervene and stop the game as that would b tears. Also didn't want to undermine DH.

Anyway - as predicted lots of angry words and tears and 'no he didn't see it first I did' etc... so I said, 'ok no more game, it always ends like this and we're not playing anymore until the day you kids can play it without crying and causing a fuss'.

I indicated to DH the harmony turned to chaos was his fault for suggesting the game. I know that was wrong of me and I feel bad for blaming him. He meant well. So yes AIBU for that!

Anyway, just wondering, after DH announced the game, knowing how it would end - is there anything that I could have done to prevent the inevitable ending??? And keep DH, and two DS's happy???

(just asking because there WILL b a next time as DH often does this sort of thing - he's a lovely DH by the way, just no memory of how his games tend to end)

(By the way, all happy now with tablets on and headphones in! And we r nearly where we r going!!!)

Whatever games we play (usually eye spy or twenty questions type), turns go in a set pattern, eg youngest to oldest, or clockwise, otherwise we end up with tears about how many turns people get

Sheep or plastic bag...

Thanks all!! I will use your tips for journey back!!!!! I am just resorting to alcohol to get through Christmas trip now we r here!! (with the in-laws!!) ;)

Thanks!

Lorries are good to spot. There is no guarantee you will see one, it keeps them looking for a while and if one doesn't appear you choose another.

Get them looking for the names on stobart lorries.

Be a parent.

One of them must have spotted a red car first. Who was it? They're the winner.

Not sure who said it first? It's a draw. Who can spot the next red car?

Sometimes in life we win and sometimes we lose. It's a valuable lesson to learn. You don't need to manipulate the game so no-one loses.

We regularly go from London to the Peak District, and three hour journeys with three children can be loud. We play things like I spy, but we work through the Alphabet, so we all look for something beginning with A, then B etc all the way to Z, we skip some of the more difficult letters if we are really stuck, but as we are working as a team there were less arguments. Then there's guess the name of the Eddie Stoppard lorry, or guess where the National express coach is going to (only works on the journeys North)

But the thing which really stopped my three arguing, was getting 3 kindles and downloading films for the journey. That and travelling later at night so at least one falls asleep on the journey.