Last week of school

Fizz · #1 (**permalink**) 05-23-2007, 02:19 PM

My kids get out of school this week, I'm feeling like this is my last week of freedom and trying to make the most out of it. Pro's, my daughter will be away from certain annoying influences. Con's, my children don't just fight, they make war with one another.

kitsch_k · #2 (**permalink**) 05-24-2007, 12:27 PM

hahah..i used to remember when i was young..since i have four other siblings our house was like a warzone!! haha

i cant imagine how our mom survived that.

Fizz · #3 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 11:31 AM

Ouch, I never looked at it that way! My Mom had to deal with 6 kids sometimes, when my oldest 3 half brothers and sisters came to visit. I can only imagine the torture we put Mom through. My oldest brother and I never got a long. We only do now because I have learned how to keep my mouth shut with him. He's a know it all and you just can't win. And don't even get me started on my next to the oldest sister, that one really had to have put Mom through the ringer, because we always lived together and always fought daily.

carebear · #4 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 04:22 PM

I feel for you. I have three but I'll be keeping them busy with a chore list to complete by noon if they want to play outside and go swimming.

Perhaps you could get card games and poker chips so they can play together.

kitsch_k · #5 (**permalink**) 05-30-2007, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carebear

I feel for you. I have three but I'll be keeping them busy with a chore list to complete by noon if they want to play outside and go swimming.

Perhaps you could get card games and poker chips so they can play together.

oh ijust remembered..my dad was very strict about playing card games or any gambling-related games when we were young..i guess he was afraid we would get addicted to it eventually or something..we grew up as the only kids in the block who didnt know anything abt playing cards!!!!

Fizz · #6 (**permalink**) 05-30-2007, 08:27 AM

lol kitsch that reminded me of something that happened when I was a kid. My Mom wasn't into gambling, strict religious upbringing. So my Dad came in once and taught us all this game called, anny a penny. The whole family had a blast up until Mom realized we were gambling.

kitsch_k · #7 (**permalink**) 05-30-2007, 08:38 AM

haha..but u know looking back it was really good that my parents were traditional in many ways..my siblings and i grew up wtih a conscience. they gave us just enough freedom to enjoy our youth, but not too much that we would waste it.

Fizz · #8 (**permalink**) 05-30-2007, 09:40 AM

I hope that I am finding the right balance between freedom and restriction. Your parents seemed to have found the combination that I am seeking.

kitsch_k · #9 (**permalink**) 05-30-2007, 12:42 PM

aww thanks my parents would be so proud to read that. i guess they set a good example, especially my mom. she juggled being a careerwoman and a mom at the same time without being an absentee mother. i guess we grew up knowing how hard she worked to give us a good life so we never had the audacity to do foolish stuff. it helped a lot that my mom was very religious too..we all have a strong faith in God.

we grew up praying together everyday

etali · #10 (**permalink**) 05-31-2007, 03:20 PM

Fighting siblings must be a nightmare.

I know this might seem unconventional, but have you considered getting them to play a computer game together? I play a lot of games, and in one guild I am in there are two brothers, one is around 9 and the other in his early teens. They used to fight like crazy, apparently, but now that they are playing Camelot, they have learned the value of working together, and, since the characters in the game need to be around the same level and both decently equipped, they have learned the value of sharing.

It's sad in a way that they learned to share because 'If you share this thing, you have a chance of getting something even better later' but it's worked, and they're a great team now.

Just a thought - I'm sure there are other ways to do it that don't involve sitting in front of a computer for hours

kitsch_k · #11 (**permalink**) 06-01-2007, 03:57 AM

i live with my cousin and she has two young kids..i think its unhealthy that she lets them watch tv for long hours even if its barney stuff...it shortens their attention span.

Fizz · #12 (**permalink**) 06-01-2007, 11:19 AM

etali I've tried that, with them it just doesn't work. This week we've been doing a little something to try to get them to work together, so maybe they will learn how to get along. We've been having them cook dinner and clean up together afterwards. If they fight then they have to do it together again the next night. I haven't cooked all week because they simply can't seem to get along.

etali · #13 (**permalink**) 06-02-2007, 02:49 PM

Hehe, that's a clever idea

You'd think they'd have at least grudginly been nice to each other just so they could get out of cooking.

The question though, is can they cook? Are you getting good meals out of this little exercise?

Fizz · #14 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 10:16 AM

We started teaching them to cook when they were small. They've really turned out to be pretty good at it. Our son though has a tendancy to mess up the meal if it is something he doesn't want to cook.

Week 2 of the cooking/clean-up together method. Wish me luck!

britjojo · #15 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 12:46 AM

Fizz I LOVE your idea! Seems to be a good way to promote team work. That would be my other suggestion, something that forces them to work together to get it completed. Not sure what though, just know that in *theory* it could be good. Sorry! My kid is young and has no siblings!

Fizz · #16 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 08:08 AM

I've been trying to figure out other ways to force them to work together, but haven't came up with anything yet. Thought they were going to get along last night. They cooked the whole meal without a squabble, but then clean up came and kaboom.

britjojo · #17 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 09:38 PM

I did actually think of something for you just as I was falling asleep last night, but when I woke up it had gone again

Hopefully it will come back to me.

littlecat123 · #18 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 05:20 PM

Fizz, How old are your kids. My daughter is almost 17. I am looking forward to the school year being over so that we can do day trips together.

I only have one though. No sibling squabbling.

Fizz · #19 (**permalink**) 06-07-2007, 10:04 AM

My son is 13 will be 14 soon, he'll be going into High School when school starts back, it feels so weird just thinking about it. My daughter is 11 and will turn 12 this year.

littlecat123 · #20 (**permalink**) 06-07-2007, 04:43 PM

Those are really fun ages! Do you live near amusement parks or the beach? I also take my daughter to the movies a lot more during the summer. Also, I'm always looking in the paper for community events and activities.

Fizz · #21 (**permalink**) 06-08-2007, 10:00 AM

We live near the beach and I love it. I'm not really sure where the closest amusement park is. I'm in southeast TX, anybody know? If those are fun ages then why aren't I having fun. Truthfully, my daughter hit the boy crazy stage and that has caused major stress.

britjojo · #22 (**permalink**) 06-10-2007, 08:37 PM

Sorry for the stress-I am dreading that already and it is a decade away still. I don't know TX at all-heck, I barely know my own state.

Fizz · #23 (**permalink**) 06-11-2007, 08:45 AM

lol britjojo thanks for making me laugh.

As far as I've been able to find out the nearest amusement park is in Dallas, to far for us just to go for the day. They've closed Astroworld, that's a bummer, I went there as a kid and would have loved to take my kids.

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