Posting for advice/ solidarity before the summer holidays send me completely round the bend.
Kids are 7 and 5 (both just turned) They are high energy, full - on kids, but generally their behaviour is pretty reasonable. They get on pretty well, play well with others, have their moments but usually ok. One thing I'm really struggling with though, is their inability to follow an instruction until I've repeated it at least 3 times. I've struggled with this for a while in the context of getting ready for school e.g. 'DD, shoes are by the door, go and put them on please' will be met with absolutely no response. I hate shouting but have found myself in situation where I end up shouting because the time I shout it is the only time they respond.
Last few weeks though what I've really noticed is how bad they are hearing 'stop'. From each other, during their play particularly. I am regularly intervening because I can hear one or the other repeatedly shrieking at the other one to stop and it's clear whatever it is they are doing isn't stopping. Could be they are wrestling or similar, could be they are taking the felt tip the other was already using - just not listening to each other. The 7 year old is no better than the 5 year old!
Other examples - 5 year old pulling the bathroom light cord on and off from in the bath. 4 times I asked him to stop and the final time I told him I'd take him straight out of the bath if he pulled it again. Grinned at me and did it again so I took him out of the bath which he cried about for 15 mins.
Crossing the road earlier with them on bikes was a total nightmare. I had to physically stand in front of them, in the road, to stop them rolling their bike wheels over the kerb when I had asked them to wait and watch the road until it was clear both ways. Just can't trust them.
Where am I going wrong? It seems to be escalating in the last few weeks. I actually sat them down this evening and explained that I am not able to take them out for days out in the holidays if I can't trust them to follow an instruction first time because it just isn't safe. They were both very sorry but I am not holding out hope it's gone in as it seems to be a complete lack of impulse control. Is this developmentally normal?! Anyone got any parenting tips that might help?