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No one listens to me!

4 replies

Whereisme · 11/12/2013 09:46

Have just had an awful morning with my 3 boys (6 and 4 year old twins) before I took them to school and nursery. As usual, mucking around at breakfast and not listening to me and I ended up shouting at them all. They all went quiet for about 2 minutes then the same behaviour started again. Feel like I'm invisable sometimes and constantly fed up of asking them not to do the same things and being ignored!

They are lovely boys and actually quite well behaved in the grand scheme of things, but there just seems to be certain behaviour that won't change. I have tried time out, and reducing screen time, but seems to have minimal impact. Feel bad as I probably should have been more strict with them when younger, but was just trying to get through the day at the time!

Also, have problems with the twins still crying most nights. Normally because they have lost their cuddly toy in bed! I know that I can just go in quickly, find it and give it to them and the crying stops and they go back to sleep. However, I am aware that because I always go in to them they don't look for toys themselves! Find it hard to hear them cry and also always worry about them waking each other as they share a room! Therefore, I'm knackered as I have hardly had a week where I haven't had to get up in the night for over 4 years!

Any advice would be much appreciated as feeling a bit stuck!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
helljoll · 11/12/2013 11:52

Bless you, I cant give you any advice as I have one girl although you would not believe the noise she can make. I just wanted to say it sounds as though you are doing a great job and in your circumstances doing the best you can. Try not to get too upset boys will be boys. maybe your six year old would like to help with the twins ,make him feel a bit grown up, anyway feeling tired makes everything seem worse so don't be so hard on yourself . I am sure someone out there can give you some sound advice.

sneezecakesmum · 11/12/2013 12:22

You have my sympathy too. You are basically doing the right thing with withdrawing privileges but at 4 it's better to do it immediately as they don't think too far ahead, although they are capable of this and it's clearly not practice to do time out when you are running late!

Maybe a big chart with a star for good behaviour and a treat after 5 stars? Also a visual sign for the 4 year olds of their 'punishment' like not watching thomas the tank engine. Put up prominently at the breakfast it may reinforce your words.

As for the teddy losing maybe a bit of Velcro stitched to the teddy and to their pyjama sleeve so teddies can't get lost Xmas Grin

sneezecakesmum · 11/12/2013 12:22

Also make the withdrawal of nice things really bite if what you do isn't working.

Whereisme · 11/12/2013 15:43

Thank you both for your replies. Spot on about Thomas the Tank Engine! Think it all got on top of me this morning and was exacerbated by a bad night. I agree with immediate punishment for the twins, maybe I need to do a star chart for them as well.

As I have an older sister sometimes boys behaviour is completely alien to me! My husband seems much more relaxed about it!

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