One reason why I could kill my two oldest children

I think people that have only one child are geniuses, I really do. What do they know that those of us who plan a second child do not know? How do they realize that they are avoiding subjecting themselves to the unforeseen tortures of multiple children? Geniuses, I swear. So are the parents who put 7 or more years between children. So bloody smart.

My two do nothing but fight. Constantly. They can not be in a room together for more than 5 minutes. In fact, I can not even send them both up to their rooms as a fight will start moments after they have walked up the stairs.

"Liam's standing at my door staring at me!" Taylor will shout.

And yes, it usually comes down to Taylor. I wouldn't know about 90% of their arguments if it wasn't for Taylor. She tattles about everything. Plus she yells at him constantly. Hmmm...wonder where that comes from?

Liam is a smart kid, much like my brother was. He stays quiet. So while he very well may be torturing his sister, I can't hear him. And frankly, that's the way I like it. Do what you want, but keep it down. I do however hear Taylor as she comes running up or down the stairs, screaming about Liam bugging her. Which annoys me. So it is that poor child who ends up in trouble, not her brother who very well may be at fault.

Yesterday was Faith Day for the Catholic schools in the city. So while all the teachers who should be teaching our children were off at some faith festival (or more likely sitting at home enjoying a day off) I was tortured by my children. Liam had a friend over, Taylor came home from a sleepover. We had plans to go to Galaxyland. Taylor went downstairs to see what the boys were up to and almost immediately I heard Taylor yelling and then she came up the stairs with this line "Mummy, Liam's trying to be the boos of me." See, the thing is I didn't hear Liam do anything at all, only Taylor yelling. I said to her that I didn't want to hear about it. "But Mummy! He's being mean to me!" On and on this conversation went until I screamed. "If you say another word you won't go to Galaxyland." Of course she said another word, that child doesn't know when to be quiet.

I came to a realization yesterday and it is this. Taylor is not going to change. So I will have to. Instead of saying I don't want to hear another word, I will tell her that I will deal with it. I don't usually do that unless I know one of them has actually done some serious, like hitting. I figure they should be old enough to deal with small problems themselves.

Old enough, but obviously not mature enough.