DIARY OF A HAPPY MOM: So You Wanna Fight, Huh??

Then we'll do it my way! I am so sick of the kids fighting about everything! Don't get me wrong. They are great children, individually; but together they are enough to drive me mad! Again, it the reason why the blog title ends with a "Really I Am."

Read more below and see photos
My siblings and I didn't fight like these two. There are five of us, and back in the day, we stuck together. Well, that was at least true for me and my oldest brother and sister. Maybe it's just a sign of the times. People did more looking out for each other than they did fighting in the 70's and 80's. Or maybe it was because my mom worked two jobs, and she depended on us to take care of each other - and we did.

Now, my baby brother and sister still fight like they did when they were younger - like Austin and Kingston. The only difference now is they have replaced hitting each other with distance and ignoring each other with ignored phone calls when they're mad. Funny thing about them is that they are brilliant minds. When they work on projects together, it's like two geniuses at work. But as soon as it's done, the claws and fangs come right back out. :-)

Austin and Kingston can learn a lot from those two. At least they're willing to put their siblings spats aside for a greater good. With Austin and Kingston the claws and fangs are out all the time. Maybe it's the 5-year age difference. Who knows! But I'm tired of it. That's why I take every opportunity to turn their fighting fiascoes into team or sibling building events. I don't want them to grow up having animosity and hatred for each other.

Yes, all sibling fight at some point about something. My oldest sister and I fought over clothes. The oldest two fought about whose turn it was to drive the car, but it was small compared to Austin and Kingston. I must admit that while Aust and King (tired typing whole names - these are their we're-tired-and-don't-feel-like-saying-your-whole-name - names), hardly ever come to blows - in our presence - but they come pretty darn close.

I'll never forget the time Aust asked if she could throw King out of the second floor window? At least she asks for permission. King, on the other hand, just attacks.

She has no idea....

The first big fight they had, I was so upset that I made them hug each other until I said stop. They did not like that at all. The second time, I got creative and made them do something that caused their insides cringe. *As I type, I just heard Aust scream my name from upstairs, followed by a door slam. Seconds later, King comes running down the stairs. Sheesh!!!*

First, I made them do the trust test. Aust, who was the most upset with her brother, had to fall back and allow King to catch her. Then it was King's turn. Neither let the other one fall. I wanted them to see that no matter how mad they are with each other, they still love each other enough to not let the other fall. It's a life lesson I want them to take with them into adulthood.

Then came the fun part. You 30-somethings out there will remember the movie "House Party" with Kid n' Play. If not, I have VO from the movie below. I made them do the infamous Kid n' Play dance (@ 1:18). It was soooo funny! They ended up laughing so hard trying to do the dance moves that they forgot about how mad they were at each other.

I regret not taking pictures or gettingVO of that, but I had our in-house photog break out the camera for the next challenge! The third big fight included some chasing, flat-hand smacking and rolling on the floor. I wished I could have poured water on them. Since I couldn't, I did the next best thing...

That's right! A WATER BALLOON FIGHT!!!

The rules: 30 water balloons. Aust - yellow and King - red. They were supposed to grab a balloon, go back to their spots and throw. But as you'll see, balloons were just flying. My poor nephew, Grant (Lil' G), 2, was caught in the cross-fire. *Notice the highly engineered balloon-toting/storage apparatus in every shot! Special thanks to my BIL and SIL, Glenn & Nicole for the backyard arena....and diaper box. :-)

At the count of 3, they attacked. Grant's thought bubble: "Wait, how does this work again?" It was also Lil' G's 2nd birthday celebration - the perfect day for outdoor fun!

King throws the first water bomb!

Aust is so close, but she missed!

Poor Grant...innocent bystander.

This one's going to sting! (Great action shot, Photog!) Grant goes for his first balloon.

That face says it all!

As usual..caught in the middle. You can't tell from this picture, but that one was coming straight for me!

Looks like Lil' G is finally going to get his shot with a little help from daddy (the biggest kid of them all).

When it was all over, I made Aust and King stand still so Grant could hit his target at close range. All in all, there was no winner or loser - just fun! Then...