My oldest two are ok to find something to doI feel guilty because my youngest is in front of a tv, asleep or just bored.Any suggestions?
210677
You could make a song out of the study work, or you could make a rhyme, or take one key fact out of the sentence and then memorize it by that.
5657
I was your daughter, once upon a time. What my mother did with me was to inform me of the consequences if I did something & then she carried it out...consistency is the only way to deal with this. I was an only child so I had just about everything a kid could want in my room. When I was bad, I was not allowed to play in my room; instead being relegated to the end of the couch in the living room where she could keep an eye on me while she went about her daily chores. There was nothing in this world that I hated more than being made to sit at the end of that couch because there was no TV, no radio, no nothing. I was told that, if I put even one foot on the floor & didn't sit there like a little lady, I would get a spanking...it worked wonders.\n\nAs for sharing - if your daughter has a problem with it - try the following. If I refused to share a toy with a little friend, my mother would take it from me. She'd put it away for later but she would tell me that if I didn't learn to share, she was going to give them away. It was just my mother's luck, I guess, that soon after this first incident, a friend of mine was having a birthday party & my mother had gotten her something that I also had & she knew the girl particularly liked. While it is true that she had to take me home from the party early because I launched into a screaming & crying fit (thinking the girl had been given my toy), you can bet that I learned that lesson immediately :) It wasn't until I was in my thirties that the subject came up one day & Mom realized what was behind my little fit...not fun to have your parent laugh at you when you are an adult :)\n\nBTW, a friend of mine uses a variation of the sitting on the couch routine when her child is bad. Difference is, she makes her kid sit on the sofa with the computer, radio & television all in the same room & turned off...drives her daughter crazy. Another friend has a kid who loves video games &, when he is being difficult, she takes them away & lets his brother play them in the other room; within the child's hearing. I, personally, think this is a little mean & somewhat harsh, but it seems to work for her son.\n\nI think that is really the trick to getting them to behave in that every kid is different & you have to find out what gets under their skin. Its not to be mean, of course, it is so that you have that leverage that you need to keep them in line. I can assure you that by the time & was six or seven, my mother only need look at me in a particular way & I would not only shut my mouth, but immediately try to make myself invisible. At the same time, I never lived in fear of her...only of her being angry with me...big difference...\n\nGood luck!
178714
Let your mom know that you'd like to spend quality time with her.  She really might not know that you feel neglected.  Talk to her--and to the evil sister.
260533
I do this for entertainment..I am a mommy of 2 preschoolers so I always have stuff to do but I like to sit and chill for a few minutes now and again so I get on here and answer a few or ask a couple and gear myself up for the next task on my endless list of things to do\n\n:-)
535068
Be there for them when they need to talk about their issues and when you have had all you can take - do something for yourself like a bubble bath, gardening or go for a walk. Something YOU enjoy - to take your mind off their problems.\nBTW. Do not feel bad if you have to tell them you can not take any more right now.
568330
Personally, I find it very entertaining to answer questions on Yahoo! Answers. If you are looking to do something more active, this could be a good time to organize your room and go through your wardrobe and get rid of clothes you don't wear anymore (donate them to a charitable organization, so they will help someone else). Or you could see if anyone in your family could use some help on a project. The best remedy I have ever found for boredom is to do things that make something better or help other people.
60694
Try talking to them one at a time probably when the other one is gone. I dont know how you parents are but if its a serious problem you dont wanna make it worse you know so just ask at different times. Good luck mama!
374445
I am both a student and a mum to two young children, which I'll have you know is quite a strain!\nSo yes I should go to bed but I only get time to myself while the kids sleep. So I think I'll ignore you advise!\nThanks for worrying though! lol!
356218
Guilt is not going to change your circumstance, it is going to add to your stress. Guilt is a disease. (best taught by religion) \n\nYou have to do what you have to do, and only you know what that is for sure. \n\nIt is there own problem if they cannot understand and accept what you are asking for. \n\nNo one should ever feel guilty. But that doesn't mean succumbing to there needs to rid yourself of guilt. That will make things worse and leave you open to being manipulated with guilt in the future.\n\n You are are responsible for your own happiness. They are responsible for theirs. \n\nIt sounds like this will just go on and on if you don't cut them off now and deal with it. Then, it may only take a short time to figure out. You won't know unless you do it.\n\nThey will have there own guilt to deal with for not giving you the space and freedom you required.
174651
You need some encouragement little one. Tell your parents or your counselor how you are feeling. Don't handle this burden on your own.
156710
Wow, where do you live?  Hehe.  Um, I don't know what you can tell your kids other than you really think they should find alternatives to hanging out in dark, secluded areas.  You should know that if they are old enough to go out and do things like that, that if you forbid them to do something, if they have a rebellious nature, they may do what they want - against your wishes and better judgement.  \n\nMaybe instead of trying to preach to them you could provide them with an alternative like your driveway, or backyard to hang out in and do whatever it is that they're doing in these spooky places.  It's never too late to teach your kids about entertaining people in the home.  That's something we don't do enough of in our culture anymore, as far as I'm concerned.  (That isn't to say bad things couldn't happen in the home either, but at least then they would be in a more controlled environment, and you [if you were there] could see who was coming and going...)\n\nOther than that, I don't know what else to tell you other than maybe to give them a curfew which doesn't permit these types of activities.  \n\nGood luck.
536690
3 year old boy- try getting him one of those "sit-n-spins!" Little kids love them, and it would calm him down a little!\n\n8 year old girl- try getting her a cook-book for little kids! She could help out in the kitchen and make easy things. \n\nGood luck! =)
7154
Smile! right now... and then, sweep away the negative feelings... it will trap you in a vicious spiral. then we can talk of improvement. but first your attitude has to change. \nmy suggestions: talk to a good friend or a counsellor. next, start exercising. and that does NOT mean going to the gym! you can exercise at home, simply going up and down the stairs multiple times, or putting on some music that you really like, that sets your feet dancing, and dance away even while going from one room to the next! dance with your child! whatever be the age, toddler or older. that will make your child laugh and will whisk away any whiff of depression. play with your child in the park! (weather permitting of course!) you won't need a babysitter, or a gym, and both your body and mind will feel relaxed and exercised at the same time.
151426
Well, number one, don't watch T.V.! That is a bad thing to do when you babysit them. It makes them think it is okay to be a couch potato and then you become lazy, as well. Make your money worth it. Do something fun and creative with them. \nIf they have board games at their house try some easy ones. Like chutes and laders or something of the sort. \nOr make up a story. You start with something like "once upon a time there was a boy named.." then they have to finish the story and you take turns. \nMake up games that teach them life-long leasons! \nHope I gave you some idea starters. \nWishing you well (because I totaly understand what you are going through!) \n-PolarGirl8\nP.S. I am babysitting some boys tomorrow, and they are 3 and 5 as well! Ha,ha.\nP.P. S. If it is nice outside try playing a game similar to "duck duck goose" except it is called "drip drip drop". You use was bucket of water and drop water on their head and then drop the whole bucket of water on them. It is very fun!
234798
you can compensate somehow.\n\nafter that you need not feel guilty.
98019
Get a babysitter and get out! Or, get a babysitter and atay in. Sometimes it's nice to play house, just like before the kids, when you'd chase each other around the kitchen table naked. We have a 3yo boy, but she works days, I work nights. I know what you're talking about. A hot tub doesn't hurt either.
597292
Spend a little bit of time doing nothing.  It's harder than it seems, especially when you're used to keeping up with active kids.\nSleep in for a day. \nStay up all night and watch the sun rise.  \nPick a designated driver and go have a few drinks, dance, laugh, call to check on the kids when you get the urge.  \nGo to a movie, go out for dinner and order something sinful from the dessert menu.  \nStart writing that book.  \nPaint a room, or just a wall.  \nFinish a project.\nTry something you've always wanted to do.