We’re at the beach, celebrating my birthday and the fourth of July…and the car fighting between the kids on the ride down drove me insane!
It wasn’t until my breathing became shallow and my head started pounding that I remembered my own advice.
I hope you enjoy this re-post while I head to the craft store in preparation of our drive home.
See you on Monday with some fresh Crappy Pics!
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Dear Kim,
I can’t take the bickering between the two girls (my daughter and niece). They may as well be sisters because they spend everyday together. I told them in the car today that I am going to keep a squirt bottle on me so every time one of them whines, takes something from the other, or slaps the other, I am going to squirt them. It worked to keep the cat off the counter. I figure, they are acting like animals so why not treat them like one. It’s more PC than a cattle prodder right? Thoughts….lol!
Emily in Bickerington, WA
Dear Emily,
I like your idea and I totally respect people who think outside the box. However, I see the water squirting as a potential mold and mildew problem.
Having gone through this with my own children, I do have a possible solution. But first, a little story…
Once upon a time, I had a fish tank that contained a Barb fish, a newt, a fresh water crab, and a Betta fish. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the characteristics of these aquatic creatures but this was a bad, bad combination. Apparently, the kid at “Wet Dreams Fish Emporium” was too busy flirting with the girl restocking the aquarium gravel to tell me.
Anyway, within hours of meeting one another, the Betta attacked the Barb, and the Barb chewed the feet off the newt (who we named Nubby). It was a savage scene.
So you know what I did Emily? I separated them. That’s right, I set up aquariums all around the room and gave them each their own space to swim safely and freely.
I wish I could tell you this story had a happy ending. It didn’t.
Because the new tanks didn’t have lids, it wasn’t long before our cats ate both fish. And a few days after that I found the crab in the back of my bedroom closet, dead. In his claw, he held the lifeless body of the newt. Clearly a murder-suicide.
But here’s my point…separate the kids. Of course you can’t physically separate them into tanks but you can visually separate them. One word for you…blinders. Out of sight = Out of mind.
Today, I’m going to show you how to make my patent pending blinders. The kids can wear these at home, in the car, at stores or restaurants, basically anywhere you want them to ignore one another. I even use these to watch TV when my family’s in the room.
*I don’t recommend them when crossing the street.
Blinders
Materials:
Pop tart box
headband
duct tape
scissors
materials to decorate
Instructions:
1. Cut the panels from the pop tart box
2. Let each child decorate the plain side of 2 panels
3. Attach 1 panel to each side of a headband with duct tape
4. It’s ready to wear! Enjoy the silence of having 2 children ignore one another!
Emily, I hope I was able to help you. I understand that this isn’t a perfect solution but it’s the best one I have to offer. It really has worked out for us because each kid gets that “only child” special feeling.
By the way, while eye contact is discouraged, I do suggest letting them write letters to one another to keep in touch or hosting occasional play dates.
Please let me know how it goes, unless it’s bad…I only enjoy pleasant emails.
Good Luck!
Kim
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