Stop The Bickering
My son and daughter like to bicker with each other.
It's always been a mild form of pestering, poking and finger pointing. Kind of like how Congress works with each other.
So, it hasn't been the quality of the bickering that was wearing me down, but rather the sheer quantity of it.
I was just plain tired of hearing them constantly pick at each other over every little inane thing.
And I let it get to me.
I turned their bickering into anger and stress, and they couldn't understand why I was getting so mad for what was really rather innocuous behavior on their part.
One day a few weeks ago, I read an article in Newsweek magazine titled "In Defense of Bickering", and all sorts of lightbulbs went off in my head.
Just like that, I was a changed dad.
For the past two weeks I've barely even noticed the kids bickering. The funny thing is, I don't think they are. At least, not as much as before.
Which makes me think all that fussing and feuding was just a show for me. Part of the ongoing conspiracy against my mental health, perhaps.
Whatever it was, I'm done with it. The bickering has stopped in my house because I decided to no longer give it any weight or significance.
I encourage you to stop the bickering in your own home by turning your attention away and pretending that it doesn't exist.
Now if we could only do that with our politicians!
It's always been a mild form of pestering, poking and finger pointing. Kind of like how Congress works with each other.
So, it hasn't been the quality of the bickering that was wearing me down, but rather the sheer quantity of it.
I was just plain tired of hearing them constantly pick at each other over every little inane thing.
And I let it get to me.
I turned their bickering into anger and stress, and they couldn't understand why I was getting so mad for what was really rather innocuous behavior on their part.
One day a few weeks ago, I read an article in Newsweek magazine titled "In Defense of Bickering", and all sorts of lightbulbs went off in my head.
Just like that, I was a changed dad.
For the past two weeks I've barely even noticed the kids bickering. The funny thing is, I don't think they are. At least, not as much as before.
Which makes me think all that fussing and feuding was just a show for me. Part of the ongoing conspiracy against my mental health, perhaps.
Whatever it was, I'm done with it. The bickering has stopped in my house because I decided to no longer give it any weight or significance.
I encourage you to stop the bickering in your own home by turning your attention away and pretending that it doesn't exist.
Now if we could only do that with our politicians!
Permalink posted by Idaho Dad at 2:18 AM
3 Comments:
uh-huh. the incessant bickering.
i have to agree with you on the stress-causing factor.
i am surprised how many times when i simply ignore it (which takes a lot of mom willpower) they work it out on their own.
but it hasn't dissipated completely so if there is a secret. it should make it's way here.
My kids don't bicker so much as they like to wrestle, which escalates to injuries. Seth's head is like a rock; Lael likes to pinch his cheeks. I'll read the article so I'll be ready for the bickering phase.
I swear I'm not sure I can handle the bickering much longer. I put two of my five to bed an hour and a half early this evening for the constant bickering. Two more followed just 45 minutes later. Funny, when I was down to just one kid--the fighting had stopped.
Post a Comment
<< Home