In the last fourteen days or so my sons have gone from being relatively well behaved to, well, what I can only describe here as *&%£$% a$%(£^*.
Second Son has decided he is no longer a baby (except at cuddles time) and is giving as good as he gets in the physical-abuse-from-his-brother stakes. Even my husband was surprised at the level of violence that exists between them now on the one night stopover he shared with us this week.
My husband, who is quite a mild mannered man, cannot explain where their behaviour has come from except to say that they are toddlers, siblings, energetic, used to mum being at home and out-and-out naughty. “It’s a bad combination,” he observed drily.
I run them ragged at the park. I occupy them exhaustively, I let them amuse themselves. I let them sleep less, I make them sleep more. I give them space apart, time together, praise them, scold them (and not all at the same time, you understand). We’re separating them now whenever badness occurs, but as soon as they are reunited it returns.
I am generally quite a mild mannered person too, but I AM CLOSE TO LOSING THE PLOT WITH THEM.
I know it’s just a phase, but I’m still considering sending them off for Army basic training.
Anyone any advice? Anyone?
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