What is it about summer that seems to bring out the worst in my kids?
Is it the change in routine? Is it being out of school and therefore ALL UP IN EACH OTHER’S BUSINESS for even more hours of the day? Is it just an age-related phase that coincides with the build-up to their birthday?
I don’t know, but it’s a pain in my ass.
Whereas before they would sometimes get on each other’s nerves, now both of them are actively poking, bugging, and pestering each other. But can they ever leave each other alone? No, of course not. Some kind of sibling/twin/magnet-force is in play, requiring them to be within three feet of each other for 98% of their waking hours.
They’re crankier, bossier, more possessive. They’re much more physical with each other than they’ve ever been – suddenly there’s a lot of wrestling in my house, when there had been next to none, and you know that never ends well.
Daniel continues to have zero impulse control, which results in many a head-bonk. Of course, with the breath-holding wail and instant river of tears, you’d think he was dropped in a vat of acid. Oh, the hysteria. On the flipside, if I tell him to stop doing something (for the 900th time), he’s just as likely to cross his arms in a huff and glare at me from over his angry pout. There’s also quite a bit of stomping.
Rebecca has a certain manic edge to everything she does and says right now. If Daniel is being reprimanded for something, she goes into full-on brown-nose mode. Daniel says he doesn’t like green beans? Suddenly they’re Rebecca’s FAVORITE FOOD!!!! Look like you might be getting grumpy with her? I WILL TACKLE YOU WITH A HUG AND KISS!!!! But when she’s not being frantically “good,” she is whiny and fragile, frequently falling apart and claiming she’s “tired” if she feels anxious about something. She is incredibly bossy and particular, and getting sneakier – all but waiting until my back is turned before she gives Daniel a swift kick in the shins, and then trying to negotiate her way out of it.
Like I said, I don’t know if this is an age thing. A lot of kids seem to go through a rough patch somewhere around the 3/4-year mark, which would be us right now. It could be that our summer days have a less-predictable structure, or that they aren’t getting as much space from each other (OR FROM ME). It could be some anxiety about turning five and starting Junior Program (aka kindergarten at their Montessori school) next year.
I’m trying to roll with it, trying to do fun things and make the most of summer. But it would be a lot easier if my kids were in a better damn mood.
Amen sister.
Heather V recently posted..Florida road trip recap by the numbers
Yes, yes, yes. My boys aren’t twins, but they do the same thing–all up in each other’s space, egging each other on, emmy-deserving drama. Your descriptions are excellent, but the pics to go along with the script? Perfect. Hang in there sista!
Camp?
My kids were AT EACH OTHER’S THROATS before kindergarten. It was bad bad bad. And 4.5 was a time of wondering whether I failed at parenting bc they were SO WILD.
Dude, seeing Ellie in R’s sunglasses made my day. Your photography rocks.
LauraC recently posted..Oh, card games are games of chance???
I know he’s pouty, but that is quite the handsome picture of D!
Oh yeah, 4.75. It wasn’t as bad as 3.75, but that’s not saying much.
Love the pictures. Such precious attitude.
As you are aware, my boys are right there with your kiddos at the 3/4 year mark. This summer has been…interesting so far. For the most part their is behavior is SO MUCH better than last year at this time. When they are good, they are downright fantastic. Obviously, this leads us to want to do many more new and fun things. However.
…
We are continuously walking on eggshells because this wonderful behavior can tailspin into a meltdown with what seems like the tiniest breath in the wrong direction. And the meltdowns are like epic, the world is ending right now in this very room type of episodes. So I agree with your final thought: a damn better mood would be awesome.
Good lord, replace Daniel with the name Ned and Becca with the name Penny and you have my kids. Our nanny has to get them out of the house every day because of the constant fighting. And Ned’s new mean “sneer” (really no other word for it) is awful, especially when he says “No, you are going to time out, Mommy!” I have to spend a lot of time reminding myself – they are only 3.
Mommy, Esq. recently posted..Christmas is for Giving and Figuring Out Toy Storage
Oh man I hope Joanna is right because we are at 3.75 right now and I have them in a 3 day a week summer school and they are still at eachothers throats. Tomorrow is the last day of this program and I am terrified of what the rest of the summer will be like. I wish I could just spend all the time at a park or something but with a 5 month old in tow it isn’t that easy.
I hope you find a magical answer to the crazy!
My girls are 4, but I”m seeing this a little with them on the weekends. Lots of separating them into different activities. But, even moreso I’m seeing this from the kids at daycare that will go to kindergarten in the fall. I wonder if they all just aren’t ready for something more?
Erin K recently posted..Days 19-24
You have enough concensus on age-based phase, but let me chime in one more — exactly my house for my newly minted 5-year olds. Zach is always “angry at you Mommy” with arms crossed and the stomping; Natalie’s favorite phrase it “no, it’s not “. and together — they are poised for the “she touched me” and “he’s on my side” routines of childhood. brings back memories, basically…. there is way more antagonism and even if they are playing together it is much more wrestling and squealing than lovely laughter. WAY.
LOL! What is it with kids brown-nosing when the other one is in trouble??? The boys have been doing that for months now and they are only 3 years old!!!!