Oh my god please tell me that having two boys gets better.....

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

.....DS1 is 4.5 and has just started school. DS2 is 18 months.

We went through the 'oh my god how does anyone have a second newborn' stage, and felt after a year that we were on top of things.

Now it seems like we're entering another phase of madness. DS2 is barely verbal and so gets really frustrated and angry, especially when DS1 takes stuff from him, and he's a real biter and hitter as well. DS1 has just started school and has got a nice new line in stroppy, answering back, shouting, tantrums etc. Whenever DS2 picks up a toy DS1 wants it and starts creating a fuss - DS2 knows exactly how to wind DS1 up and does so as much as possible.

Today ended up with DS2 biting me so hard on the arm I screamed really loudly (neighbours with their one tiny PFB must think we're out of control....), and DS1 jumping on the sofas and shouting so much DS2 fell off and banged his head. I am worn out from refereeing and negotiating, and feel like I shout all day every day

Anyone got any kind words to offer? Even if it's just 'here, have a large gin'?

I take back all the times I sat with my well behaved tiny PFB and looked at mothers with unruly boys and thought 'my boy isn't like that'. Turns out all it took was school and a little brother, and he is. And worse....

erm, I have 3 boys. I am in the school of thought "ar well, DS2 (2) will be old enough to fight back soon" . Lot's of "no!" and putting into bed for 5 mins etc, both have to share - the 2yo isn't allowed to pinch toys just because he is little. Ride out the tantrums and eventually they are happy with one having Woody and one having Buzz if it means they get none.

Here, have a large valium gin.

I have exactly the same age boys. I know exactly how you feel

I hope it gets better.

There are glimpses of them playing together nicely but they last about 10 seconds.

However I had a friend who said when her DS2 got to about 2.5 things all got better.

Just another year to go then

I have 13&10year old boys,it does get better!
They still fight and argue but also spend a lot of time looking out for each other,and playing nicely!

Thank you! SecretLemonade - I am interested in the putting into bed for 5 minutes, but although DS2's bed is only one floor away and is a cot so he can't get out, DS1's is two floors away and he would just come right back again! Do you do it with both boys?

I do have a tendency to let DS2 have his way (not too much, but sometimes) as he has a VERY loud cry, and sometimes I can't take the screaming

He is also incredibly greedy/hungry, he is constantly trying to get snacks and open the snack cupboard, and it's exhausting having to say No all the time and move him away and listen to him scream when I've shut the kitchen gate. He gets plenty of food and snacks, but is just doing it for naughtiness a lot of the time, as you give him something to eat and he just throws it on the floor.

Can you tell I am at the end of my tether!?

I've got 2 boys. 11 & 10.

They fight like cat and dog! Proper thump each other! black eyes and bruises.

but they are really close too. always do everything together. Enjoy the same games, share a room, really care about each other.

Siblings fight. You have to harden yourself to it. I always say that I'll intervene if the blood hits the ceiling

Oh, and word of warning - don't baby the lastborn! I did and it came back to bite me in the bum!

9 and 7 boys here - yes they can play lovely sometimes and other times they are so nasty to each other. They tend to go through stages, at the moment 7 year old has started at new school so having lots of tantrums..

Think the constant rain is not helping anyones nerves....

DS1 (4) is a greedy so and so, I just let him have free access to kitchen and we just rarely have junk in. I only put the 4 yo to bed for 5 mins, well DH does - he seems to be able to get him to stay there, when I do it he just comes straight back out I take away toys alot and DS1 only get s them back if he shares/doesn't throw them at DS2 etc. DS3 is too young to be much trouble (12w) but I can just see me buying earplugs in the end and just be on damage limitation!

Oh goodness I have it all to come then! DS1 is 2.8 and DS2 is 7 months. Please more tips on bringing up 2 boys!
Currently I try to get DS1 to play with DS2 like another child of the same age- ie not too rough, share, take turns, don't snatch. How do you monitor the rough and tumble of it all? I'm aware there'll be a lot of it but I don't want them to get carried away and not play in other ways together.

I have 2 boys, there is a 2.5 yr age gap they are 4 and 6.5.

I go for the "Grey'son'1 sit here, Grey'son'2 sit there and when you can play nicely together you can carry on.

and I walk away.

At some point they stand up and carry on playing. having said that, I don't do it when they were the age of your boys I would ask one of them to come and help me with something elsewhere in order to give them both some space.

However, alot of my time is spent firefighting

here, have a large gin!

in fact, you better get a case in, cos it doens't get better! lol

I have 4.3 yr old and 18 month old boys.

Try living in a flat with no garden! This afternoon was one of the worst 6 hours I think I've ever had! :(