What is WITH the girls?

[pegkerr]

Good heavens. They've never been into roughhousing much before, but for the past couple of weeks, they've been tumbling over each other like wolf cubs, wrestling in the car, in the kitchen, in my office, often with accompanying screams, until I'm just about ready to backhand them into next week. They are driving me crazy. A lot of it is over a hat that Fiona bought (it says "National Karate" on it) that she loves so much that she wears it 24/7. I mean, she even sleeps in it. Delia thinks it's fun to snatch the hat and try to keep it away from her, which leads to raging skirmishes all over the house. They also grab at each other in bear hugs, lifting each other off the ground--but they are both so strong now that a couple of times they have managed to hurt each other.

I have been tempted more than once to order one girl or the other to get out of the car and walk home just to have a moment's peace. I wonder what it prompting this. And how I will survive the winter if they keep it up.

Comments

[oneminutemonkey.livejournal.com]

Get a squirt bottle. Fill it with water and white vinegar. Next time they start rumblin', squirt them both.

If it works for cats, it should work for kids. :>

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

If only all my problems with them could be solved by treating them like cats. If they refuse their dinner, I could offer them Kitten Chow.

[amandageist.livejournal.com]

You could, you know. If they get hungry enough, they'll eat.

Then again, I'm VoldeMom.

~A

[splagxna.livejournal.com]

my sibs and i were into that a lot around the same age. we also had a ton of fun being snarky and insulting to each other; we thought we were hilariously sarcastic. my parents wanted to throttle us.

[rachet.livejournal.com]

Tell them Santa is watching. :D

[cammykitty.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm... Squirt bottle. I was thinking sort of along those lines, but it sounds more like puppies rough-housing, so if they act anything like my puppy, they'll think the squirt bottle is hysterical. Look, Mom is getting into the act!!! But making one walk isn't a bad idea. *wicked giggle* Have no idea what's gotten into them though, unless it's about to become a full moon and they are sprouting silky hair like a golden retriever's.

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

I seem to remember doing similar with my siblings... we used to particularly torment my sister (the youngest) by taking away her cherished stuffed animal. Which meant WAR.

Your girls, however, are actually trained to use their strength, whereas I and my sibs weren't. (O, sorrowful day when my brother outgrew me... sis hasn't managed to yet, ha.)

[pameladean]

We were always made to go outside for rough play. About half the time, it didn't seem worthwhile.

P.

[mizzlaurajean.livejournal.com]

Tell Delia that everytime she takes the hat she owes Fiona and you a doller each.

And ya if they want to roughhouse the back yard is ready and waiting.

[tassie-gal.livejournal.com]

Tell em to save it for sparring class at Karate.

[mkaout.livejournal.com]

What is WITH the girls?

cold outside
Christmas coming up
Christmas break coming up
Can't send 'em to separate rooms (though I like the kick one out of the car)
cold outside (yes, again. but it needs to be noted... the cold snap was severe and sudden)
and dark outside (which you know about and respond to in adult ways)
they are teens
maybe want one on one with parents?
maybe want a nice outing with each other (sans parents) ?

My sis and I have the same age gap. AND my sis has SAD...(moved to Texas b/c of it)...

eh. sorry. I know you are not a fan of unsolicited advice.

good luck.

OOh. one last thought...maybe send one of your daughters to my house to watch my 4 year old???... therapy and perspective for all!!!! :-)

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

At a guess, it's the same thing that makes boys roughhouse: glorying in their young strength, in the responsiveness of their trained bodies. And in the knowledge that, being both trained, they can keep up with each other.

I don't suppose that makes it any more tolerable in a closed car, though.

[mayakda.livejournal.com]

Will it still work to warn them that Santa's watching?