Tuesday, October 1, 2013

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!)?

40 comments:

From Tracie said...

I relate to most of these things. But the waking up one is the biggest around here. Not being a morning person for most of my life, I can understand my daughter's feelings, too, but waking up does have to happen every day. Which means the whining happens every day, too. Ugh.

The Dose of Reality said...

Hahahahaha. YES...to all of them. I loved the "going to bed" back to back with "waking up" because EXACTLY!!! You hit on all of the biggies. All of them. I'd also add things not being "fair" As in, "Bobby had a cookie at lunch and I didn't so that's not fair. I should get to have a cookie nowwwwwwww". UGH. --Lisa

Janine Huldie said...

Totally was reading this and feeling right home, because 2 girls here = lots of whining for so many different things and you are right I am so probably #1 on that list, too!!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Yes - Ugh! I totally understand their feelings, but they have to understand that it's part of life and whining won't change anything! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

OMG - the fairness thing drives me crazy!!! In fact, I have a whole post in my head I'm trying to sort out about that one! :-) Definitely should have added it to this list!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks Janine! It's a dirty job, but we mommies have to do it! :-)

Tamara Bowman said...

Oh dear - the whining goes on and on? I thought it would magically stop by kindergarten!? (I wish that was a joke) My youngest whines about getting up in the morning. Really, kid? You're one. Go back to bed! My oldest whines about food and clothes. Already! She's four.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Uh oh! Sorry to be the one breaking the bad news! :-) Unfortunately, it does continue, The subject amtter just changes a little!

MamaRabia said...

I will choose C) All of the above! My kids are champion whiners! It drives my husband crazy, but I've gotten so used to it, I don't hear most of it anymore. The only difference we seem to have is that in our van the backseat is the coveted position. The boys want to sit back there, but I've told them they can't until they can buckle and unbuckle themselves correctly. I am NOT climbing back there twelve times a day to wrestle seat belts!!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Heck no!! I would not climb back there either. I can sometimes tune it out, but it does drive my husband crazy too!

Karen said...

I whine when it's time to get up too...Dino whines when it's bed
time. He's not picky about his clothes...unless a tag is ridiculously
hard or long. He;ll wear pretty much whatever and just as easily walk
around in his undies...but that is the joys of a boy, *rolls eyes*

I
seem to make Dino whine sometimes too...I even once yelled at him,
that's right I'm the mean mommy, well too bad, this mean mommy wants to
keep you safe so too bad.

mamabeann said...

Ha! Umm, yes my kids whine at ALL of these things, except getting up- they are up at the crack of dawn, I'm the one that gets whiny I guess lol! Thanks for linking with us for WDW!

Ginnymarie said...

This list is exactly right! Those all all reasons my kids whine, too! Except for the van seat one...with only two kids, I've dodged that bullet! ;)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Hopefully! Or they will get married and whine to somebody else! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Oh I definitely do my fair share of whining - especially in the morning!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Mine are late sleepers which is a blessing on weekends and during the summer, but a curse on school mornings!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I don't get the seat van seat one - I mean we are all going to the same place, right???

Kristi Rieger Campbell said...

Love this, Lisa! Today, I'm whiny because my son was up at 5:30 am playing with legos. In my bed. ARGH.

shellthings said...

Mine actually fight over who gets to sit in the back of the minivan- that's the coveted spot b/c you are away from your siblings!

Stephanie Sprenger said...

Ugh, sadly, you are SO right. My 7 year old is much whinier than her toddler sister. And I am with you on the homework- it makes me nearly as whiny as her! I have vivid memories of "calling" shotgun when my brother and I were kids. We still have a while to go before that one happens, thank goodness...

The Shitastrophy said...

I love pancakes for dinner! I remember my mom making apple pancakes and thinking how awesome it was. Thanks for hooking up!!

Julie You Jest said...

And Bill Cosby is a DOCTOR. Just sayin'. I love pancakes for dinner!

TK said...

I've only started to deal with whining and it's disheartening to know that this will continue for a while! I wish they'd just get over it, and move on, but no, they'll whine and drive us up the wall!

Kelly Fox said...

Peanut Butter Toast. The kids eat a sh*t-ton of it.

Kriss MacDonald said...

Mine whine when they're having fun in the playroom and I ask them to come for a meal / bath / get ready for bed /eat breakfast - basically any time that they consider is interrupting their fun.
#wineddown wednesday

foreverfiveblog said...

Oh how I could take a page from your book, Lisa. I obsess over healthy meals and I throw a tantrum at least once a day when my organic greens are tossed to the floors or regurgitated for effect. Pancakes sound deliciously practical for three growing girls.

Kristin@Dizzy Busy and Hungry! said...

Haha! This is so true! I found that the only thing to reduce whining was to not acknowledge it at all. Of course, that is much easier said than done! I just hope by the time they are 30 they stop the whining! LOL

Thanks for sharing at Wine'd Down Wednesday! I hope to see you again next week!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

That would make me whiny too Kristi!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Ha! To my girls, it seems the front is the throne. Only peasants are relegated to the back!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I was worried about this afternoon because we had so much craziness scheduled. The girls did amazing - no fighting, no whining. Then, I mentioned homework. It was all downhill from there!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Me too! Maybe when they graduate and move out????

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Yes! Mine definitely do that too!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Hopefully by the time they are 30 they will have someone besides us to whine to!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

And here I was feeling bad for being unhealthy! Maybe we both need to find a happy medium! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Ha! Would you believe one of mine actually doesn't like peanut butter?? Not allergic or anything, just doesn't like it.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Amen!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Ooohh - that sounds delicious!

Kristen Daukas said...

All of these and I'm sure a few more. Anything dealing with hygiene will set off a whinefest, too. Luckily my oldest has reached the other side of the spectrum... too much prep time. Not sure which is worse.

MolleyMills said...

I'm guilty of that! I once had a mega fail on dinner and so my go to meal was waffles and ice cream... the kids loved it, and my husband has never let me forget it

Ashley Linder said...

So nice to know that I'm not the only one with whiny kids. And yes, if you figure out how to minimize it let me know!!

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