Wordful Wednesday – Holding Hands

Wordful Wednesday 411: Wordful Wednesday is like Wordless Wednesday, except WITH words.  It’s for those of us that just cannot be wordless, no matter how much we try.  Add my Wordful Wednesday badge to your post (right side bar under “WW”) if you really want to make me happy, and then add your post link to the linky below. Easy peasy.

I have a few kids who’ve recently decided they don’t like to sit next to each other.  They fight if they sit next to each other in the car, on the couch, at the kitchen table.  It’s ridiculous.  I know it, Jeff knows it, and they know it but I think it’s become a routine.

Jeff finally had enough and took matters into his own hands.  Clearly our previous method of asking them to be nice to each other and stop wasn’t working long term.  It was working for the moment but having to say it day after day after day was getting old.

When the children in our household who shall remain nameless started fighting for the 357th time Jeff made them get off the comfortable couch and have some good-old one-on-on time together sitting side-by-side  on the hard floor.  Holding hands.  Both hands.  That worked for awhile and then they started fighting again so he made them sit even closer.

When this didn’t have the desired results they had the privilege of sitting cheek to cheek for like 20 minutes.  At the end of 20 minutes they had to hug each other and give each other a kiss.  On the lips.  In front of the whole family.  I think it worked.

So. far. so. good.

I hope these two are as smart as I give them credit for because if they aren’t they have a fun day ahead of them.  They get to hold hands ALL day LONG.  Which of course means that I will walk them to school holding hands for all to see and when we get to school one will have to walk the other to class.  Holding his/her hand.  During school, there’s not much I can do to enforce the hand holding, but I can arrive at school upon dismissal and make sure one picks up the other from class and walks him home and spends the rest of the day with him/her enjoying the feel of that hand held in his/hers.

Do you have any kids that can’t sit by each other without starting to fight?  If so, what’s your solution?

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About Angie

Angie is a CRAFT dabbling, recipe making, WORD loving, sunshine hording, book DEVOURING, Mama to a lot! She's kind of in love with Instagram right now, so if you want her attention, go find here there. {smiling}

Comments

  1. That is GENIUS! We have done the “NOW you must hug” correction method, but I ADORE the cheek-to-cheek and kiss on the lips in front of all idea.

    Bet by the end, they are all laughing. 🙂

    Love your insights, and images, as always!

  2. I’ve done something similar! I do like the walking to school together hand in hand a lot! I wish I could do the same thing but since mine go to different schools it’s kind of hard.

    Hopefully they learned their lesson!

  3. None of my kids and can sit by each other ever. I’m SO doing this!

  4. Now that’s a good idea I may have to implement! My two boys can’t be in the same room together without wanting to put the choke hold on each other. Apart, they’re well-mannered and well-behaved. Together, they’re like two cave men who wouldn’t know what niceness was if it hit them in the face.

  5. What a great idea! I don’t know if I would have thought of that : ) Very clever. They are too cute for words!

  6. Oh man. That is great!! I have got to remember this tactic when my kids get older. Bravo Jeff!! The kissing in front of their siblings thing probably guaranteed they’ll never fight again, right?! lol

  7. Genius! Now I’m going to have to figure out a way to remember this for when my girls start this fight.

  8. Crap – totally forgot to leave a thank you note for mentioning my blog on your faves list! How awesome, and what an honor. Thank you thank you thank you!

  9. That is the BEST Idea!
    Knowing my boys they would still manage to wrestle and beat each other up even while holding hands, or they would be spitting in each others face!

  10. Love your idea!! Will try it to see if it works for my kids too!!

  11. Yay for Dad and his creative problem-solving!

  12. Thank goodness we are not there (yet) So glad you chose Debi’s post 0- it is beautiful

  13. That is genius! I’m SO going to try that with Princess Nagger and Little Dude… 🙂

    Easter Egg Family Time

  14. Love it! It depends on the day… sometimes mine will sit together nicely, sometimes not… when they don’t..I yell… I like your solution better!

  15. What a genius idea, mine are just starting to get into the “he’s touching me” “she’s looking at me” phase and it’s driving me crazy. I just wanted them to love each other to pieces forever. Our current battle is over who sits by whom at the dinner table or on the couch. I’m totally making them hold hands.

  16. Brilliant! I wonder if that would work with my husband and middle daughter. She can’t sit still on her seat at supper and they always end up bickering. I tell them all the time (in a joking way) “Do I need to separate you?” It usually works 🙂 BTW, have you seen the new Monocle necklace from Twisted? It would look so cute on you! Me too lol 🙂 Take care!

  17. This is a really good solution. I like it and I hope the lesson sticks. 🙂

  18. I am lucky. My kids are 13 years apart.

  19. I say if they keep it up hugs and kisses are next 😉

  20. Thank you, Angie! I just laughed so hard at this; I needed it this morning. We’ve done something similar: having the girls help each other make something, complete a chore, or write nice things about each other then read the thing to each other, in front of the rest of the family. It’s hard sometimes b/c you know they love each other and you can’t help but wonder where did the time when they played nicely together or acted like they liked each other go?

  21. The look on your son’s face is priceless in that last photo.
    I used to fight like cats and dogs with my siblings however, it resulted in a time out.

  22. That makes me laugh a little…luckily I only have one kid.

  23. When my boys are old enough I’m totally using this tactic! Genius!

  24. That’s a great idea, and they’re still young enough that you can actually MAKE them do it. I’ve heard of making them share a bedroom till they work it out, but that doesn’t work for our two problems, Luke and Tess, nor can I make them hold hands. I have no solutions, just two bickering siblings. Sigh.