I have had one of those days. Actually, it's been one of those weeks, but the culmination of all my frustration occured today. I just can't stand to listen to any more whining or crying from my kids. Or pick up one more blanket that has been left on the floor again. Or have to deal with putting a patch on Karli's eye for one more day. Or change another stinky diaper. Or...anything!
I need some advice. One of my kids is a whiner. All day. Every day. About everything. If this kid wakes up and the sky is light blue instead of dark blue, they whine about it. They whine about things that cannot be changed, and they whine about things that can be but won't be changed. Even if there's no pressing issue at the moment, this kid sits around with a finger in the mouth and makes whining noises, like moans and grunts, and kicks their feet on the floor or the wall or the table. How do I stop this insanity?
I've tried banishing said kid to its room, taking away everything precious, etc. but nothing seems to work. I feel awful because today I actually told this kid I didn't want to be around with all the blubbering and noise. Do any of you have tips?
This is me...on vacation in Tahiti.
Monday, November 16, 2009
This Is Me...Screaming!
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10 comments:
I had the same day yesterday! I am sorry I don't have tips for whining. I need tips for keeping my patience. I hate acting like that! Today is another day though...hopefully it will be better for you too!
I don't know, but if you figure it out, please let me know!! Maybe it's the weather or something, but whining is the new theme song at our house lately!
Call me and I'll come babysit! Although I can't be responsible is said child is duct taped to a chair when you get home. :)
Sorry. I have one child that used to really whin too. I found that if I would stop what I was doing and spend some one on one time with her doing something that she liked to do, it help her. Plus, she just had to grow out of it. She always would whin when she needed something, "I NEEEED A DRIIINK!!!!" I would tell her, " I will get you a drink when you can ask nicely, in a real voice and not a whinny voice." I would just keep telling her that I don't respond to whinning. Eventually she got better at not being Soooo whiney. Good Luck. Some days are just hard. Some days I feel like I've been pecked to death by a large hen. Peck, peck, peck . . .everyone NEEDS something ALL the time. We are all in this together! :) Thanks for sharing your feelings, it makes me feel human and normal.
We sometimes have that problem here too! :) I have been reading The Power of Positive Parenting by Dr. Latham. It's awesome! Basically it's ignore that bad behavior and when there is good behavior compliment it and give praise and eventually the bad will stop. I am sure they it's an age thing as well. Like Christina said, some days are harder than others. It's a huge challenge to be a parent and I think you are amazing! And don't forget, you're about to have another one very soon!! That could also be adding to your frustration. The end of pregnancy is hard! Good luck and hang in there.
Something must be in the water. My kids are especially trying lately too. Two ideas I've heard for whining. Talk to said child in the same voice to help them hear how aweful it sounds and practice talking in a "big kid" voice (when you're not in the midst of a problem). I also recommend "Love and Logic" parenting books. They really work (when Garth and I are doing our part.)
My advice: take the day off (or at least a few hours) and let Adam handle them for a while. Seriously, I find that when my whiny kids spend more time with Dad that the whine goes away a little bit. Either that, or I'm more tolerant of it after having a little time to myself. Either way, it helps. =)
Hang in there!
Maybe try some reverse psychology on her? When she whines about the sky, whine along with her and maybe discuss what color it should be. Good luck, I too have whiners, maybe she'll grow out of it, soon hopefully.
Livee whines a lot too. She thinks time out is funny but she hates hot food. So if she is whiny or being a brat I tell her I am going to put hot sauce in her mouth. It is the only thing that works. I have only put it in her mouth a couple of times and now she knows how it feels so she will stop doing whatever she is doing that is noddy. And I will give her a drink of milk if she says sorry. I use the Red Hot hot sauce and it is not even hot so if she likes hot sauce then use Tabasco or something hotter. Maybe this is mean of me but it is the only thing that works!
I agree with Liz. I have a whiner too and we ask to use the big kid voice or we will not listen at all. Ignore, ignore and ignore some more. This is really really hard to do, but most of the time it works. I also have started to praise so much for good behavior. I thought I was before, but I did it even more with everything. Helping or being nice to brother, picking up, getting dressed, being quiet in church. I do not wait to praise him until after an hour of good behavior, but after 5 -10 mintues. So he can succeed. It seems he wants to please us and loves the good attention, which has made the bad attention dwindle. But believe me this did not come without some trial and error! My patience has been tested many times and I just had to try something else so I did not end up whining back at him!
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