How do you cope with a big family?

[scaredmumneedssupport]

I've 4 Ds. How do you cope with constant brotherly fights and squabbles, they know its not on but can't seem to help attacking each othef and winding each other up. I find myself shouting just to be heard. Anyone any good solutions?

Bump, do you find best yo ignore until tears, unless they are really hurting each othet?

Well you are not alone if thats any help!!

It gets me down too. I find the ignore stratergy works sometimes. If I don't I get drawn into it and get annoyed then I shout and turn into the kind of parent I don't want to be. My middle two are the worst they are 9 and 10. They walk passed each other in the hall and start to argue. I swear if one of them had a shitty stick they would end up fighting over it.

I don't really have any advice but want you to know that you are not alone. If you work out how to stop it let me know!

hiya
typing with one hand with my toddler climbing over me"
what ages are they?
firstly, back to basics....

good behaviour, ie, no fighting... nice treat each (separately would be best.. item from the shops, staying up later to watch or read something, cinema night at home with all the trimmings (dvd, popcorn, duvets downstairs etc ,,, anything really)

bad behaviour, ie fighting or winding up on purpose, not treat!

you could do it two ways....

individually (bad behaved = no treat, good behaved = treat )
not easy for the one or ones who have badly behaved.. but, sometime they need to learn (depends on you how you feel about that.. i would be happy to do that with my kids)

or as a group. (if just one fights, or winds up... then, no treat for them all!!!!!)

Make a note of it somewhere, if you don't want to go down the reward chart route. I'm not really into those.

Give them say, 3 strikes... and they're each or all out! If that makes sense.

Basically, back to basics.. nice and simple. It's NEVER too late to put some boundaries back in. I know how easy it is, especially with a larger family, to let things slip (just for an easy life). I've been there myself a few times... I try to be consistent, and I think I mostly am.. but, sometimes it does go to pot a bit. And i have to 'reign' things in again.

I'm a bit like that with the washing too!!!

Anyhoo.... Things will be fine, and so will you. And order shall reign again, well, you know what I mean!