I'm gonna let you in on my latest and greatest lazy mom parenting technique -- How I settle arguments.
Namely, TV related arguments that go like this when we get back from the library and I let each of my little whippersnappers pick out a movie to watch...
"I want to watch my movie first!"
"NOOOO, I want to watch mine first!"
"Moooom! Who gets to watch their movie first?"
You ready for this?
Cause it may change your life.
As in gosh-that-lazy-mom-is-so-awesome change your life.
Here's what I do to settle these types of arguments.
*ahem*
Gotta clear my throat for it.
It's that good.
*aheeeeeem*
I simply say... "Pick a number between 1 and 10."
And you know what?
THEY LOVE IT.
Seriously, they all get all smiley and stuff while thinking of their number. And they all are totally fine with whoever wins and gets to go first because they won it fair and square.
Then to see who goes next after the first person is done, I have the other two pick a new number again.
And sometimes I change the number range up on them to keep things fresh. Or catch them off guard. Or make them laugh.
"Pick a number between 1 and 1,332."
"Pick a number between 1 and a gabillion."
This is lazy parenting at it's best my lazy peeps.
You're welcome.
Pssst! Have you entered to win FREE MILK for a YEAR yet???
mine like to roll dice to settle that stuff...
ReplyDeleteBUT if they are being Icky about their Arguing- I just turn off the TV and no one gets it (or the toy, or whatever)- they quickly learned to settle their own debates about that stuff.
I like the dice- because it is not even remotely from me. It is totally the little cube of plastic rolled by them.
(besides, I always pick the same 2 numbers- I'm predictable)
I've done that. But I have to say that the last time I did it they started fighting about who would pick the number first. Then after, there was an accusation by the losing kid that the winning kid always wins. Somehow the system was flawed. huh. Whatever. Sometimes I end these arguments by threatening to get involved, because if I get involved NO ONE WILL BE HAPPY!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh its a constant battle on who gets what first. I'll give this a go and see where it gets me!
ReplyDeleteMy kids always fight over who gets to pick out the movie to take in the car for the ride to school in the mornings. So I started letting whoever was up, dressed and ready to walk out the door first pick the movie. It's been so awesome!!
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with this, so forgive my idiotic question: what happens once they pick a number? How do you determine the winner?
ReplyDeleteOh sorry! I just assumed people would know!!
ReplyDeleteI pick a number in my head before I ask them to pick a number and the one closest to my number wins!!
Sweet! Thanks for explaining :) I'll have to try that with my boys.
ReplyDeleteMother Joyce used to do that all the time when I was growing up...of course it wasn't about a movie. I think it was about who rode the bike first or who sat where in the car! Isn't it great that old parenting tricks are sometimes the best? My favorite: " because I said so!"
ReplyDeleteWe do the exact same thing! I still get muffled groans from the loser, but that's how it goes.
ReplyDeleteI use that as well and we also do rock, paper, and scissors - my kids are tweens. Another thing we have arguments over is who gets to sit in the front seat. I use even and odd days. My first (1) kid gets odd days and my second(2) kid gets to sit on even days. Of course then she wants to argue when we go from the 31st to the 1st that he gets 2 days in a row. I just tell her it's life and I can because I was kid number 2!
ReplyDeleteMy 2 kids like to play rock paper scissors to settle disputes. I sometimes have to remind my youngest before they play though that she's not allowed to get mad or pout if she loses. But it usually goes pretty well.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great way to what numbers they know. I bet they starting trying to out guess the other person's number soon.
ReplyDeleteDude, that is awesome!!! I may have to try that with all of the kids in the neighborhood too!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm learning how to make it fun for my 8 year old to put away his own clothes. I just tell him to pick only one type of item to put away right now and not to do any more after that because I want to help with the rest. ......................Sure I do. I tell him no more tha that 1 type of item or I may have to blow a gasket. When he whizzes thru putting everything away n comes back to tell me about it, I make sure to make out like I'm having an apopleptic fit.
ReplyDeleteTo solve the front seat conundrum, each of my kids (I have 5) have their own weekday for front seat. Every Monday is for the oldest Tuesday is for #2 etc on down the line. Weekends are free for the taking, which usually means each kid can only have it one way (ie.. to Wal-mart but not home..)We also try to pray together everyday as a family so once again they each have their day (same protocol as before) it make things run much smoother. There is no debating, the rule is already in place. That my friends is LAZY!
ReplyDelete