How do I get them to change?
By tad1fan
@tad1fan (3367)
Canada
March 6, 2007 8:10am CST
I have had 5 children,2 girls and 3 boys.....I am just wondering why the boys are easier to raise when they are younger and get more difficult when they get older?When my oldest daughter was 6-10,I couldn't get her to pick up after herself or clean her room but the boys were the opposite,now I have a 9 year old daughter,11 year old son a dn a 16 year old son living at home and it's all starting over again.....my 9 year old and 16 year old are total pigs,they leave their garbage laying around and it will stay there for ever,or until mommy or daddy picks it up,their rooms are total disasters,they never bring their laundry down,etc....etc....,Now when my 16 year old was the same age as my 11 year old,he was a clean freak just like my 11 year old is now.....his room is always clean,he picks up after himself,and his brother and sister,he'll even do his own laundry.....I know this won't last because my older boys all went backwards as well....what can I do to get the other two to be more like him and get him to stay the way he is?I have tried everything from subtracting from their allowances to taking priveleges from them,they still get their allowance for doing certain things but they don't seem to care that they are losing for not doing their rooms and picking up after them selves.....what really annoys me is that they'll walk from the livingroom to the kitchen 100 times to get a drink but don't take their garbage with them,the garbage can is right next tot he fridge.....sorry for going on like this but I'm just so frustrated and am hoping someone can help me here....thanks
3 responses
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
6 Mar 07
Oh dear, oh dear, you are in for a shock just wait until your girls are teenagers. You will wish then you had all boys! LOL
@shambuca (2524)
• United States
6 Mar 07
well my mom used to ground me, no dances, no parties, no visiting friends, no phone, nothing - that always worked- however nowadays the kids don't mind staying home they have the computer and tv so it's different, have you tried no tv or computer or phone? or you could try telling them they have to do somehting really discusting like clean up the dog poop in the yard or clean their rooms.
I don't have children so it's hard for me to say, just giving my ideas on what I wouldn't want, but I am old school..lol - I only have dogs and to tell you the truth - I can't keep them out of the garbage..lol.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
6 Mar 07
I see you have the best of both worlds...Gotta love it..However, I have one child which is a boy...From having friends who have daughters and the things they go through raising them...I thank god everyday for blessing me with a boy...Sometimes, I wish I had a daughter too...lol..My momma says it's never to late...but I'll pass...
Being a female myself, and seeing how some of the younger girls are now a days, they are growing up way faster than we did. Clothes, lil make-ups, hair done, music, phones, their apperance means alot to them and how they look to others..
The little boys, well my son is my angel, my little man of the house. All he wants is game systems and really want to pick out his shoes..other than that, I shop for his clothes, take him to get a haircut and he's fine...lol
As far as my son, I have to get on him sometimes about cleaning his room, but I can say he has NEVER talked back to me. I do take away things from him when need be. But, he's about making some extra allowances...
My thought which seems to work for me..Take away the things that they REALLY REALLY like. Sometimes that helps..I know I take away a game system poor boy, he goes through serious withdrawals...or take away what time they go to bed, have them go to bed a hour earlier..Sometimes things such as these really help...
Good luck to you..
