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I cannot cope with my children, and I am tempted to put my eldest on a flight back to Britain.

62 replies

QuintessentiallyQS · 27/07/2014 22:22

I know they fight and bicker, but they have taken manipulation to a new level. They know I dont want to punish the non-culpable child, so they both deny their own part in what has been going on, as well as coming up with so many stories I cant see right from wrong.

We flew out to Norway on Friday evening.

I am so tempted to send ds1 back to Britain on a flight tomorrow evening, so dh can take him to a camp and bring him back with him.

But, the repercussions are going to be too big. Ds2 will then be treated to quality time with me, while ds2 have to fly home alone and go to a camp he will not enjoy, so that is disproportionate.

But, I have no control over them. They dont do as they are told. They are putting pressure on for me to buy them things, and the are not doing stuff I am asking of them. Ds1 told me this morning that he would have cleaned up his clothes, if only I had done as HE asked me, and ordered him a new phone cover that he had tailored himself on a made to measure website. His words "All that would have been avoided if you had only done as I told you" Hmm

They started fighting on the pavement outside the shopping center, because they got impatient when my phone rang. It was a friend, and I was trying to arrange for her eldest to meet up with mine. They were not listening to me saying stop it several times. Ds1 said "It would not have happened if you were quick on the phone or had gone straight to the car". It is as illegal to talk on the phone here as in Britain!

Yesterday I could not get them to bed until past midnight. They currently share a room, and they were faffing about, in and out of bed, and generally being a nuisance. I was so wound up by their behaviour that I did not manage to fall asleep until 2 am. Woke up this morning by ds1 screeching at ds2. He had woken him up by climbing down from the bunk bed.

On the airport, coming here, I let them buy some sweets. I told them they could not have it all in one go, but to make it last. All gone. They even polished off the Hotel Chocolat that were treats, behind my back.

It seems to me that they are punishing me, or letting me have consequences for not doing as they want. The phone call and the fighting, the clothes mess on the living room floor (ds1 had emptied out the suitcase to find his phone charger) and the phone cover.

We were also late to leave the house yesterday because I battled so long with them over tidying the clothes (which they did not do in the end) that we were too late to buy shoes for ds2 before closing time.

It is so frustrating. I dont know where I am going wrong. I try so hard to be fair, but they are playing me.

After the shenanigans yesterday I told them if they were playing up at bedtime again, ds1 would sleep on the sofa of my sisters top floor flat, and ds2 in the sofa of my dads flat on the ground floor.

We are currently staying on the lower ground floor.

Of course they played up, and I had to stick to it. Sad

I am a failure.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
MyCatIsAStupidBastard · 29/07/2014 20:48

Oh FGS Buttercup.

Sounds like a great plan Quint. I am certain kids fight just to relieve boredom at times. DD is at horse riding camp on Thursday to give her some fun and me and DS a break. Not Reward, just fun and a break.

Maryz · 29/07/2014 20:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SlicedAndDiced · 29/07/2014 21:00

I think you are trying to be TOO fair op.

They are 9 and 12, they don't give two hoots how their behaviour impacts you Grin

Do you stick to your punishments?

What do they treasure the most? Phone? Xbox? A television program?

Remove it until they do what they are told. You are the parent and the adult here. You are not supposed to reason/ cajole/ implore them to behave. You expect them to behave and if they don't then you punish them.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

QuintessentiallyQS · 29/07/2014 22:48

Grin Zero - I think anyone is welcome, but being able to communicate, preferably in Norwegian is a bonus! If you can manage to drop them off here on Friday, you may still be in with a chance.....

I think any child deserve a bit of a holiday. We are duty bound to go to my parents every summer, it is not always that exciting for them. Especially not now, with my mum having only weeks, maybe months to live, so I think that I will take the dr Who stance and say that they should be happy now, as they will be so unhappy later. (Christmas edition, series 7) - Not a drip feed by the way as they were not aware of her new diagnosis and deterioration.

I dont ordinarily reward bad behaviour, but really, there are two issues. Their behaviour, and a long boring holiday in Norway again. We should have thought more about their fun and enjoyment in the first place.

Another day on good behaviour. Ds2 made pear, rasberry and redcurrant smoothie for pudding, and cleaned up everything after. He is happy if he gets to make something edible.

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LastTango · 30/07/2014 11:47

They know I won't punish the non-culpable child

And, boy, are they playing on that. You punish them BOTH.

QuintessentiallyQS · 30/07/2014 11:50

Yes, that will be the future and the now.

After I separated them for night time (they have their own rooms at home) it is much better.

Now they also have something to look forward to, together, which seem to also unite them in a cooperative way, not a ganging up sort of way.

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MysteriousCircusZebra · 30/07/2014 12:11

Sounds like a great plan. Enjoy the peace!!!!

rosepetalsoup · 30/07/2014 12:36

To me it sounds like they are playing up as dad is away. Get your DH on the phone to give them a good blocking 'do as your mother says or else.... I am so disappointed in you' etc. ?

rosepetalsoup · 30/07/2014 12:36

Sorry bollocking, not blocking!

QuintessentiallyQS · 30/07/2014 13:18

Not sure I agree that the only way for me to get authority and get them to respect me, is to get their dad to tell them to respect me.

That would mean my authority is only through him!

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rosepetalsoup · 30/07/2014 13:21

I agree it's not ideal, but it often works in our house if the absent parent comes in as bad cop. I bed they'd play up for him vice versa then a strict bollocking from mum would sort it out.

QuintessentiallyQS · 30/07/2014 13:23

Yes, that I agree with. The bad cop good cop scenario can be useful.

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