Tuesday Ten - Things That Make My Kids Whine

All kids whine at some point and every parent I have ever met despises it.  If you Google "How to Make Kids Stop Whining" you will find countless articles with suggestions for preventing whining, stopping whining, and even punishing whiners.  Personally?  I think whining is just part of life when you are a parent.  Sure - you can take steps to decrease it and discourage it, but I have yet to meet a parent who has completely eliminated it.  (If you are that parent and I have not met you yet, I would love to invite you out for coffee sometime.  Just let me know when you have an opening in your schedule!)  

Although the reasons for whining change as kids get older, it doesn't go away.  (Sorry!)  In fact, I know plenty of adults who are quite whiny!  My kids are currently 6, 8 1/2 , and 11 and these are some things that cause them to whine almost every single time.

1.  Clothes - I have three girls, so perhaps they are more particular about clothes than boys??  (Just guessing since I have no sons to compare.)  My girls are picky about their clothes in different ways, but I've heard everything from "This tag is itchy" to "I can't find anything to wear" to " I HATE tights!" 

2.  Food -  The oldest and the youngest are my picky eaters and regularly complain about the taste, smell, and/or texture of foods.  My middle one is not quite so picky but is, apparently, starved because she is hungry around the clock.
3.  Homework - I know teachers have to give homework, but when my girls get home after working all day at school, the last thing they want to do is sit down and do more work.  The minute second I say "homework time" they lose it!  (Honestly, homework makes me a little whiny, too, so I really can't blame them!)
4.  Chores - If I ever actually wanted my kids to whine all I would have to do is ask them to clean something - anything.  Immediately the whining commences.
5.  Waking up - I think we observe some pretty reasonable bedtimes around here, but my kids never want to get up in the mornings.  (Although, my oldest is doing considerably better this year.  Perhaps because she started middle school and doesn't have to get up quite as early as she used to??)  I'm not exactly a morning person myself, so, again, I don't blame them.  However, grumpy mommy + whiny kids = never a good combination.
6.  Going to bed - Despite their distaste for mornings, they are constantly stalling at bedtime. "Just one more minute/thing/book/drink/ . . . . . ."  They do not seem to comprehend the correlation that going to bed earlier makes getting up easier (in theory, at least).
7.  Each other -  These girls know how to push each other's buttons like no one else on Earth.  When they do, the whining begins.
8.  Minivan seating - I really don't understand why it is such a big deal, but with three kids, someone always has to be the lone back seater.  Apparently, that is the lowest position on the totem pole and the person relegated to that spot finds it degrading.  But, somebody has to sit there, right?  When the parents are eventually forced to make the call, the whining is practically instantaneous.
9.  Technology - My girls are a tech savvy as any kids their age, and, like most people, technical difficulties frustrate them.  Frustration=whining.  Not to mention the arguing and whining over the actual possession of the technology devices.
10.  Me - Yep.  I probably should have put myself way up there at #1.  I'm the one (along with my hubby) who is always saying no, nagging, disciplining, and directing.  Therefore, a large percentage of their whining is usually directed at me.  I suppose that's just part of the parenting gig, though.  (Truthfully, I do my fair share of whining, too, so I can't complain too much!) 

So what make your kids whiny??  Better yet, what makes YOU whiny (other than whiny kids, of course!)?