there MUST be an alternative to parenting through shouting/threats and bribes...

[flipflopson5thavenue]

mustn't there??????????

DS1 is 5.8yo and DS2 is 3.4yo and they are DRIVING ME CRAZY.

The CONSTANT bickering, teasing, fighting, moaning, complaining, shouting, screeching, wrestling... ALL DAY LONG!!!

I started writing a very long post but I was just rambling. ANd I'm not really sure what it is I want to ask or say - other than fact that we're finding them such hard work at the moment, and feel like rubbish parents.

How do you handle/deal with sibling teasing/bickering etc? What and how to you punish?

What consequences do you have for you 5yo and 3yo that is fair and consistent and age appropriate..?

How do you stay calm and not react so emotionally to them pushing your buttons???

Gah.

I'm a teacher and I can remain calm in any situation. But with my 2yo? Takes a serious amount of self restraint when she's creating. I'm definitely in need of some coaching there but in my profession I use this book. It teaches ways to speak to children and give them their opportunity to share and acknowledge why they feel sad/angry/scared etc. Cheap and cheerful with examples of conversations and responses.

No advice OP but following. I seem to have started shouting at DD more and more and it just makes me feel shit. Mine are only 1 and 2 and I’m already telling! I really don’t want to be a shouty mum!! I’ve got the little kid version of the book PP mentioned. I think I need to revisit.

Talking and explaining the good reasons why you want them/ don’t want them to do something.

It requires you to have been explaining things for a while during their early development tho otherwise they won’t have the cognitive function to grasp your reasoning. It also requires you to be able to articulate your own position and reasoning beyond ‘cos I sed so!’