I am not sure exactly when I lost control and became overwhelmed raising five children. My children do not listen, they talk back, they fight, they scream, and they tear up the house and refuse to help clean up. Their father is incarcerated and I don't have much help with my kids other than my friend that pops in when she can. I feel that I am on the verge of a breakdown. The constant chaos and mess makes me crazy. I work on room and they tear up another. I try to get them to help do something and they straight up ignore me or walk away like I wasn't even talking. My oldest is a boy, age 14, that has mental issues that he tries to use in his favor. I say lets clean up and he all of the sudden needs to walk away beause he is angry. My 9 year old daughter talks back to me, rolls her eyes, and yells and physically fights with the others. My 8 year old daughter is just lazy. She won't do a thing. My 7 year old mimicks the behaviors of my 14 year old and constantly beats up his younger brother. My 5 year old is the better behaved of the bunch but he whines and throws fits if things aren't in his favor. I have set up rules and consequences yet nothing works. I don't know what to do anymore. I think I am losing my mind. I didn't teach them to be like this. I am overwhelmed and stressed out. How do I get it together?
You may not have taught them to be like this, but you did teach them that it is OK to be like this...Sit down for a family meeting...tell them what you need done, and what you expect from their behavior...when they do something wrong, empty their room...rent a storage unit so they can't sneak their stuff back, and make them EARN it...all they need to have is a mattress, clothing, and personal hygiene products...If you don't get them under control now, it will only get worse!!
Get rid of everything but what they need. Strip them down to the basics. 7 outfits, i blanket and pillow, maybe 2 toys for the little ones no Internet or tv. Sorry you are going through this.
I totally agree with this.
Quoting Livinwith3boys:
You may not have taught them to be like this, but you did teach them that it is OK to be like this...Sit down for a family meeting...tell them what you need done, and what you expect from their behavior...when they do something wrong, empty their room...rent a storage unit so they can't sneak their stuff back, and make them EARN it...all they need to have is a mattress, clothing, and personal hygiene products...If you don't get them under control now, it will only get worse!!
Wow, I don't know how you get through the day with your sanity intact! I have six kids, but I don't know how I would handle it without my husband. I've been feeling down because I have trouble with my 4 year old and his hissy fits...I think I'll count my blessings now.
Good luck:-)
This absolutely! I'm the oldest of six and we all had to do our part or we suffered the consequences.
Quoting Livinwith3boys:
You may not have taught them to be like this, but you did teach them that it is OK to be like this...Sit down for a family meeting...tell them what you need done, and what you expect from their behavior...when they do something wrong, empty their room...rent a storage unit so they can't sneak their stuff back, and make them EARN it...all they need to have is a mattress, clothing, and personal hygiene products...If you don't get them under control now, it will only get worse!!
Empty their room? Then whats left if they misbehave again? Seems a little extreme.
Quoting Livinwith3boys:You may not have taught them to be like this, but you did teach them that it is OK to be like this...Sit down for a family meeting...tell them what you need done, and what you expect from their behavior...when they do something wrong, empty their room...rent a storage unit so they can't sneak their stuff back, and make them EARN it...all they need to have is a mattress, clothing, and personal hygiene products...If you don't get them under control now, it will only get worse!!
How do you deal with a potty mouth?!
- gingersnaps79
on May. 9, 2012 at 3:39 AM