For me, the more connected my kids feel to me, the better behaved they are. It's so easy for me to get caught up in my chores, the computer, whatever....and they slowly disintegrate into bickering, hyper messes!!! (I have three boys - 11,8 and 6). When I take the time to BE WITH them - to play games, or invite them to cook with me, or go on an outing together, or just listen to them...it's like they feel filled up inside and don't have to poke at their brothers all the time.

When my two youngest fight, I will sometimes make them choose between giving each other a hug or holding hands on the couch for 10 minutes lolol. It turns into a game and it's suddenly them vs. me and they laugh and reconnect with each other (they pick the hug every time btw). Finding a way to laugh helps.

((((((((((((((Elaine)))))))))))))))