SE22mum

I'm really interested to know how much siblings in other houses fight. Our house seems to be a constant battle ground - one 7 year old boy and a 4 year old girl. It drives me absolutely crazy, and I end up modelling terrible, angry behaviour which makes me deeply ashamed. My son just seems to blame his little sister for anything and everything - even when she is no where around! And she knows just how to wind him up when she wants to. Having said that, they do play great sometimes, and they are both fiercely loyal when outside the house. I just feel at a loss on how to navigate this situation. Most of my friends have younger children so I have no yardstick by which to know if the level of arguing is normal or not. I come from a very peaceful family and my sister was always my best friend, so it breaks my heart when they argue. My partner comes from a large chaotic family where shouts and blows were normal, so he thinks I over-react. When I was a stay at home Mum I found I had masses of patience, but since going to back to full time work 2 years ago this has dwindled. I find it so upsetting when they argue that I seem to end up shouting all too often....which is hardly setting a good example! any ideas on how to create a calmer household? or is this just part of the flow and I should learn to go with it?

mmm, sounds familiar. my son has always hated going to sleep, and still now at 7 he says he hates it every night - even though now he goes down very easily. i ask him why, and he says it's boring and scary. when he was around 2 it used to take ages to get him off as he would fight it so much. in the end, i used to get him ready for bed at a normal sort of time, ie bath and pyjamas, and then not start actually going to bed until quite a bit later. i would just let him play or else we'd read lots of books. i figured i would rather spend an hour chilling out with him in a pleasant environment than spend an hour telling him to go to sleep! he wasn't in a cot though, but a mattress on the floor....so when it really was bed-time we would just both get in his bed, or sometimes my bed, and we'd both "go to sleep" (and sometimes we really did both go to sleep!) I know some people prefer kids to get used to sleeping in their own bed and on their own, but I found this would take about 10 minutes, and then I would hop out and get on with the rest of the evening. now, age 7, he still likes me to lie down next to him for a few minutes as he drifts off to sleep - and I really enjoy it. I like feeling that he goes to sleep feeling secure and loved.

Hi there was a thread on this a while back. search for spanish mums or something like that.

Hi I?m a local mum looking for babysitting work. As well as having cared for my own children, nieces and nephews, I?m also a primary school teacher with experience from reception to year 6. I?m available evenings and weekends. You can PM me or text 07502176995.