sounds like normal kids or are mine just a bit feral?

[fattybum]

Although I consider them both to be pretty good kids, ds1, 5.8, and ds2, 3.5, do sometimes make me doubt myself as a parent. Today, for example, we were going out to the park and by the time we had reached the bus stop they were already running round and round me and laughing. Now, this would be ok in the park, but they get quite silly and noisy and seem to lack any consideration for those around them.

It's the same walking down the street. They both seem incapable of just WALKING. They can do jumping, running, skipping, hopping, dragging their feet along, anything but just walking. Ds1 in particular constantly has to be told not to get in other people's way, look where's he's going etc. He's always apologetic, but that doesn't stop him doing the same the next time.

Then there's the winding each other up. If it's not one then it's the other.

In other ways they can be kind, considerate, funny, well behaved etc, but I just cannot predict whether we're going to have a pleasant, easy going day, or one where I feel like putting them both up for adoption.

Does this all sound typical, or should I be finding a way to put my foot down more, particularly with regards to being disruptive to others?

Sound exactly like mine, age 6 and 4. Older one in particular spins/dances/ hops/crashes everywhere. Tis slightly embarassing in a shopping mall etc when they cant JUST WALK!!! I see it as high spirits/energy burning so let them get on with it despite the occasional down the nose look from the 'Im busy and your child is in my way' types. I do have to act as the eyes of the pair of them which can be a bit tedious! Think its normal tho.

Typical if mine are anything to go by. I spend my life (well, my school-run-life) saying "mind out of that man's way!" as they career headlong into any poor unsuspecting bystander.

Normal, normal, normal and fecking infuriating :o

Thankyou! So maybe I have to chill out and stop getting so stressed out by it. It is like you have to be their eyes! so bloody draining, just want to say LOOK WHERE YOU ARE GOING!!!!!!

Also, you can tell some people are thinking they're out of control monsters (which is only half untrue!)

By the way, any parents of older children know when it gets easier?

Oh yes all normal Regarding the walking, my ds even now (aged 10) prefers to take the circuitous hopping/walking backwards/kerb balancing route wherever possible.

I have 3 dc and am always tripping over them myself. I'm forever saying why can't we all just walk along together nicely, giving each other enough room and all facing the same way?? No-one listens

Two of mine have a strange attraction towards old people with walking sticks. I'm terrified that one day, a poor old person will get knocked over - which could be dreadful for them. I'm always giving them pep talks - maybe it will sink in when they're twenty.

Sounds normal-to-good.

Walking backwards, forgot about that one! Why, if you don't seem to be able to avoid collisions when walking the right way, does walking backwards seem sensible?

Today, ds1 actually fell over on the bus trying to balance himself in a ridiculous fashion. He was upset and embarrassed, I was laughing inside thinking "maybe that will teach you"! Mean mummy, I know, but ffs!

And yes, my two seem to be drawn to old people with sticks too.

Sounds EXACTLY like my own DD and my 4 DCS!! Its bad enough going out with 5 kids but they have to run, hop and skip everywhere!!

These are the kids who can run all day on a jelly bean!! For now, I have one tied up strapped in a buggy until my baby arrives (yes, that'll be number 6!! I'm mental!) Once the baby comes I'll have 5 little shits cuties running about!!!

Wow, five kids! I end up being a miserable cow with them, then feeling guilty for not being more light hearted about their little shit-ness. How do you all manage to stay positive, or do you get pissed off like me?

Depends on the mood Im in. Sometimes I can smile indulgently as they twirl/career around, other times it drives me mad. I tend not to worry about what people think tho - no point, some people will find fault in any kind of parenting. Tho I do apologise profusely and feel ashamed for a bit if they do knock into someone. But children are energetic! its a good thing on the whole and I would never want to knock it out of them. So, I keep smiling and breathing...and watching!

Normal. And like PMTIsMe it depends on my mood (and whether I have PMT!) if it annoys me or not. You do have the odd person with either no children or a hazy memory of having perfectly behaved children who tell you they're hyper, but most other mums will tell you it's normal.

Ooh PMT what's your secret? I can very rarely smile indulgently ~ it nearly always just drives me mad.

I'm thinking of getting two permanent signs made up;
"Sorry about my children" (for the poor general public)
"Look where you're going and mind that lady/man/lamppost/wing mirror/bin/dog/tree/child/hole!" (for my little darlings)

Anyone up for one or both of them? :o

My secret is wine when they are in bed of course
And to pick and choose where I take them and when. Mall+PMT= HELL
Not saying its easy, they are total twerps at time!
But sometimes you have to weep laugh. Yesterday DS1 flopped/danced/hopped out of the living room, fell flat on his face and split his lip (ouch!) He came to me and cried for a bit, then twirled/bounced out again to look in the mirror at his wound, ricocheting off the doorjam as he went and bruising his knee badly. Sigh.

My 3 are the same. DD1 is 8 so is getting more sensible, but tends to dance everywhere in a ballerina type fashion. The younger 2 are 4 and 6 and I tend to spend the walk to school repeating "face direction of travel" whilst they spin, race and hop along.

To be fair they do listen when they need to on the sections of road without pavement, but hey are quite feral when given the chance.

They're good near roads, just nowhere else! Went to Ikea on monday for fun. both boys were dressed as superheroes, which seemed to encourage in them the idea that they needed to attempt to lift every bed/sofa/chest of drawers whilst saying "look how strong I am", as well as running then sliding along on their knees!

Must have told them not to run about fifteen times in one hour. They're not naughty, honest!!

Fattybum my 2 DS's are almost the exact same ages as yours and exactly the same.

I try and get them to walk holding hands as much as possible (and give the older one some responsibility) which does seem to work - but obviously I only do this on safe quiet roads whilst I am hovering nervously very close by and make them hold my hands when crossing roads etc.

I actually avoid shopping with them if I can (or at least not without DH - 2 pairs of eyes and all that). They are much better on their own and I can control them better

I do see it as typical high spirits for children that age though this doesn't stop me shouting or muttering under my breath at them to behave!