Sorry, this is kind of long... I have two boys 2.5 and 5.5. They are each other's best friends and also worst enemies. It's so sweet and fun to watch them play when they get along; but is so frustrating when one of them is not playing nice or sharing, causing the other to cry and whine and throw a massive tantrum. And the listening part, wow! My oldest just doesn't listen to anything I say. We'll have a chat about it one second and the next he's forgotten all about our little talk.

I've been battling with the boys during meals a lot these days. My youngest used to be such an awesome eater. Overall, he still is, but he's starting to play around just like his big brother now. My oldest, ugh, I've tried everything (reward system, etc.) to get him to stop playing and concentrate on eating his meals and finish sooner than later. If I'm not nearby reminding him to take a bite he'll just keep on playing and leave his seat and run around. Most times he's playing with his hands! He'll pick on his food, smear it on the table, move his arms around and accidentally spill his milk or his entire bowl of food. Ugh... Luckily, my youngest sits in his high chair for 2 out of 3 meals of the day. He runs around during breakfast and I had to put him in time out twice this morning for playing around. He has a bad eating habit in that he wants to bring toys to the table when he eats. He'll also bring books. And all this is thanks to his big brother who encourages it b/c he doesn't get to play with toys at the dining table. I nixed this toy thing with my youngest a while ago, then our helper (she's great but gives in to him all the time) goes and gets him as many toys as he wants. I have to kindly remind her to not let him bring toys to the dining table b/c it really slows down his eating and then he just doesn't want to finish after a while. And then there's the two of them talking and playing around together while eating. I've had to separate them so they can't see each other so they can eat faster.

So aside from their eating issues, there's the jealous and sharing issues. My oldest is SUPER jealous of his little brother. I don't blame him b/c his little brother is just so adorable and knows how to work it with me. But I try to be as fair as I can with both. I think this is probably not just a boy thing, but I had to mention it.

Other things that makes them tough is the way they play. WOW... I'm surprised our downstairs neighbor hasn't complained about the stomping and constant floor noise coming from out apartment! We have concrete floors between us but when one stomps you can definitely hear it. I hear the little girl upstairs when she's comes home from school or wakes up from her nap. I'm constantly telling them to not stomp or run their ride-on cars into the walls or cabinets (one of them has Thomas the Train's noise print permanently imprinted on the entire bottom of the right door.). Throwing balls at things or using anything that's long like a sword. There's not a moment of calm with them unless I really need some peace and turn on the television. We are a no TV household until the boys go to sleep or a little before dinner just to see what's going on with the world. They hardly get to use the iPad or play with electronic anything for a long period of time. It's a personal thing for me.

Anyway, sometimes I feel all I do all day long is tell them not to do this or that. A friend recently asked me, isn't it tiring to constantly tell them not to do this or that? She has one boy and he's not rambunctious like my boys. It's not that I want to. It's because if I don't someone will end up with a bloody something or something or someone will break. I also feel that if I don't control their behavior at home they will be this way while we're out. And it has happened when I have to get them to calm out while we're out.

Is it like this with girls? I am always so envious of friends with girls who sit quietly eating their meals or play quietly while their parents talk to someone else. My boys will not let me do any of that. Is it my poor discipline ways or is this all just very normal for a 2.5 and 5.5 year old boys. I'm so emotionally exhausted when it comes to the boys.

If you have all boys or even girls who are wild and crazy like my boys, how do you handle some of these situations? I feel like I'm doing the right thing, but it's just not working as well as I thought it would. And it's not lasting... :\