Help! It's only the first day of summer vacation and if I hear 1 more tattle I am going to loose what is left of my mind!
How do you mom's handle it? I honestly don't know what to do. What do you say when it's a tattle for something your child knows the'yre not supposed to be doing?
I don't mind the whole "Jimmy fell in the well, come quick mom." But all I seem to hear is:
Jimmy is jumping on the bed. Jimmy is playing in the water in the sink. Jimmy didn't wash his hands. Sally took my toy. Sally won't play with me. Sally pushed me.
So like I said some things are rules and some things are just THINGS! :0
What are some ideas??
bookworm_mom ~ mommy of twins
My very close friend has
My very close friend has twins as well, and the tattling phase just about drove her out of her mind. I can remember her saying, "if there is NO BLOOD or FIRE...ZIP IT!!!!"
I really just think it's something you have to deal with...sorry I don't have any words of wisdom.
Perhaps you can make one of those vanilla vodka blueberry pomegranate cocktails, and pop in some ear plugs.
LOL!
oh man words geting out
oh man words geting out about me!
Does the NO BLOOD or FIRE...ZIP IT!!!!" really work? Do any other moms do that? I hope this isn't just a twin thing.
bookworm_mom ~ mommy of twins
When my oldest was in
When my oldest was in preschool they had a "Tattle phone." If it was something serious the teachers would deal with it themselves, otherwise, all non-serious tattling was directed to the toy Tattle phone! This worked well with little ones
In my house, that doesn't work with ages 5 and 8. It's "You need to work this out between yourselves. If Mom (or Dad) has to get involved, then .... " (insert consequence of choice.)This works quite well. My kids have gotten great at talking out their problems. They get that it just isn't worth losing out on swimming for an afternoon over some little argument.
Susan is mom to Alexander, Isabel, David and stepmom to Eric. Make sure your email address is current, we'll be giving out great prizes DAILY in September after our site makeover! Don't miss out!
So I guess I could use your
So I guess I could use your line for the things between them. What do you do when it's rule breaking stuff? Does anyone have a rule board?
Sorry to keep asking so many questions.... but I'm just lost.
bookworm_mom ~ mommy of twins
I love the TATTLE PHONE
I love the TATTLE PHONE idea!!!
That's hysterical. I wonder if you can rig something that records the tattling so you can listen down the road, just for a good laugh! Or maybe even have automated "mommy" responses so the kids feel like their tattle is justified?? LOL!
...and I think the blood/fire thing really worked ...it just evoked a blank stare for a few seconds, and then they would just run off, defeated!
I'm going to try the cocktail and earplugs! Oh wait, I have an 8 month old that can't talk. haha! I'll let you know how it goes.
I love the idea of the
I love the idea of the Tattle Phone. I'm going to have to try it. Thanks
jesshod is a mommy to 2 girls (ages 6 and 1) and is an arizonamoms.com discussion leader living in Surprise.
Yep, our preschool had a
Yep, our preschool had a giant, plastic ear attached to the wall, that the kids could use to tattle.
When kids tattle, they want a referee. They are competing to be the better kid. When I stopped jumping in to resolve every little thing, my guys got much better. At 5 and 8, your kids are old enough to work it out., There will be tears, though.
What's out family motto?...."no blood, no foul" (basketball family!).
"control yourselves, or I'll control you", works for us too.
Nothing increases internal cohesion like a common enemy. Sometimes, you have to be the common enemy, in order for the kids to turn toward each other.
"Only a life lived for others, is the life worthwhile" - Albert Einstein
I'm laughing, because I just
I'm laughing, because I just had a big flashback. I'm going to LA for work tomorrow, and I'm going to get to see my niece and nephew -- both home for the weekend from college. Big treat for auntie!
My brother is very close to our cousin -- in fact, they're working on different ends of a new attraction at Disneyland (the House of the Future, I think it's called), so my brother's kids and my cousin's kids spent a lot of time together growing up. My cousin's oldest daughter, when she was about 5, was the world's champion tattler. I swear the kid must have taken notes, because she not only told, she told in great detail.
So one afternoon, when I was watching all of them, little Missy stomped over to tell me her tattling story. I listened. Then, I asked, "So what?" Too bad it was before camera phones. The look on her face was priceless.
I know the feeling, I lost
I know the feeling, I lost my job a couple weeks ago and I am petrified to be home alone with my kids (8 & 10) until I find a new one!! I was a stay at home mom for 6 years until I got divorced and things were fine, but lack of practice, I'm not sure how to be home alone with my kids for that long again unless we are on vacation and have "scheduled" activities like on vacation where the kids don't have a chance to get bored and get on each others nerves.
Single mom in Mesa to two great kids (8 & 10) and two great adults (18 & 20)
In addition to 3 boys, I am
In addition to 3 boys, I am also a 3rd grade teacher and hear TONS of tattling. My rule is, is someone or something is hurt or broken, then you tell. If nobody is hurt and nothing is broken, then it is just tattling. If they are tattling then I have a mirror in my classroom and my kids have to talk to the mirror. Same at home, they have to go into the bathroom and tattle to the mirror. That way they can see how silly they look and sound when they are tattling!
Yes, I have 3 boys. No, I am not trying for a girl.
We have made it clear that
We have made it clear that tattling is reserved for when someone is going to hurt themselves or cause a major problem for themselves or others.
The tattling has definitely lessened since they have gotten older, but we now have the issue of our oldest trying to mother the other two. She tries to tell the boys what they should and shouldn't do at all times without asking for parental intervention. It drives them crazy. If I hear it starting, I quietly remind her that she is not there mother and that I will handle things. Usually a reminder is all she needs, but it is definitely something she is prone to do subconsciously without even thinking about it.
JuneSlager is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com, raising three children (ages 15, 14, & 11) in Northeast Phoenix.