Mama Mantra: If It’s Only Fun For One Person, It’s NOT Fun

Posted July 29, 2016 by Prairie Wife - 3 comments

I have three boys…and as much as I love all our busy little boys bring to our family, there is one thing that drives me nuts…

The teasing!

Some of it is genetic, I’m sure. The Cowboy is a well know chronic teaser. If he’s not teasing you or tricking you, he probably doesn’t like you.

The Cowboy and our boys spend hours in the cold Wyoming Winters watching YouTube videos of pranks and pratfalls, laughing away while Cowgirl G and I roll our eyes. It’s their thing and one of their favorite ways to male bond.

With all five Cowkids home all day, every day for Summer, we’ve had a ton of fun.

But, as the Summer has gone on, I’ve noticed that the teasing has begun to be bit much.

It starts out with gentle teasing and quickly escalates to picking and poking (either emotionally or physically). Which is soon followed by tears, squeals, and yelling…I’m sure you can guess who does most of the yelling!

I recently came up with a really helpful phrase. It keeps me calm and cool, and I find myself yelling less, even as I repeat it over and over to the Cowkids. It gets the point across that teasing can quickly turn into bullying, and it prevents me from turning into a screaming monster when I’ve heard the “STOOOOP, NOOOOO, EHHHHHHH, MOOOOOM” whiney squeals one too many times.

If it’s only fun for one person, it’s not fun.

Short and sweet and to the point.

Calmly looking the instigator in the eye and saying this mama mantra is sure to stop the teasing before it gets too far.

Do your kids tease and go too far? How do you put a stop to it?

Copyright: atic12 / 123RF Stock Photo

Categories: Life As It Happens, Parenting

Tags: , adivice, bullying, mama mantra, motherhood, parenting, parenting advice, teasing