Bickering - How do you cope????

[porkypoo]

DS is 10 and DD is 8, they constantly bicker about anything and everything. I am seriously considering buying ear muffs as I'm sure my ears can't take it anymore!!! Any tips anyone?

They are doing my nut in. I sympathise, porky. dds aged 10 and 8. I am going to explode.

I have decided that as of tomorrow they are not allowed to speak in my presence unless it is in a calm civilised way. 'Cause I have had it.

god i know how you feel. The school run is the worst time for me! I think its just the fact that they are in a confined space and the verbals just take over!

Just made mine both go to their rooms for half an hour to calm down after a trip to the post office. I was going to buy a big bag of sweets as a treat, but they just could not agree which one!!! Ended up very embarrassed, leaving without anything!!!

yep. I pick them up from the childminder, short journey back in car and they start pronto, normally arguing about whose turn it is to talk.

Really, I start the new regine tomorrow.

That sounds like a good idea to me, gonna give it a go myself I think!

used to have one in the front of the car and one in the back to stop the nudging and poking etc... but that started a whole new issue.... Who's turn it was to sit in the front! oh my god! it never ends!!

pointydog, do yours do it when DH is around? Mine are definately worse when it is just me. Is it some attention seeking thing or what?

it's normally settled down when dh gets home as they are playing with separate friends or one's watching tv and the other's upstairs.

But I think a little part of it is to do with competing for my attention.

yeah i agree..... Let me know how you go tomorrow!!

oh, t'were bliss, porky!

I stopped chatting to childminder abd the two of them were stood with jackets on, holding bags, all ready.

Small chat with dd1. Dd2 said 'mum, can I tell you something now?'

All was calm.

Now to keep it up for the next 10 years or so.

Excellent!

Sounds like its working. I have tried the silence in the car trick and it seems to keep everything alot calmer!