Keeping a cool head

Rachel - posted on 05/12/2010

take a breath.... patience. maybe they both go to bed a little later than normal, tell the older one to get movin on doing what he's asked to do, or find himself cleaning the bathroom floor with a toothbrush-that'll move him guaranteed! get the baby sitting up on the counter next to you and sing songs while you try to finish up dinner...

Veronique - posted on 05/12/2010

I would put the youngest in the crib/playpen or even the high chair and give him a snack or coloring book. As for the oldest i would ask again but maybe with a clean up song if all fails then i would help. Not easy i know t keep your calm but we have to try and stay cool calm and collected.

Sarah - posted on 05/12/2010

unfortunately i have this task everyday with 3 kids, so i usually have the 2 oldest distract the little one while i make dinner and wait for daddy to get home then he usually gets a wrestling match with them while i cook and yes the mess can wait till they have gone to bed or if dinner time is easy enough we do a clean up song while everyone helps and my youngest is about 1 1/2 and he seems to like to mimic mommy

Michelle - posted on 05/12/2010

I would ask my older one to play with the younger one while O get supper ready, then I would help the older one clean up after supper. We eat supper, bath then put all toys away before a quick bedtime snack. Then brush teeth, stories, hugs and bed. It is hard to keep cool thou.

Mandie - posted on 05/12/2010

I wouldn't really know how to deal with the older one, I only have a 4 and a half month old - but I would put them both in their rooms and let them cry and whine for a couple of minutes while putting dinner in the oven (granted it won't really take that long undistracted) and then, while dinner cooks, let them out for bath time, then depending how old the older one is I might say you don't get dinner until you clean up your mess, otherwise just let it slide this time and pick it up yourself, or let it wait until after dinner to devote your attention to making sure he actually does it. I'm not really sure how to deal with punishment at this point though... it just seems to me that dinner is the most important part in the long run because nobody would be fed if you didn't get that underway, so if they need to fuss for a little bit, let them. Or you could always leave them in their room after dinner is in the oven instead of bathing them, and take a breather for yourself instead. It depends how you badly you need things done to get a moment of relaxation. Personally I'd rather get everything out of the way so I can enjoy sitting down for a moment without feeling like I just have to rush off again.

Rebecca - posted on 05/12/2010

Put the youngest in the crib so i can get a few things done and help the oldest pick up whatever i asked them to. I don't bathe before supper so that would wait until supper was done and once both kids are in bed i would then clean up the supper mess with the help of my spouse of course.