I’m posting one of my questionable parenting techniques: how to stop your kids from bickering in the backseat by blasting really loud rock music. Although it’s very effective, this technique can only be used once in a blue moon, otherwise your kids will rebel and go all goth on you.
First, make sure that the car is moving so no one can get out for the duration of the song, and play this song REALLY LOUD (go ahead and press Play):
Next, turn it up EVEN LOUDER.
Look in the rear-view mirror – see your children’s faces? They are worried.
Success! They have stopped bickering.
When the song ends, get out of the car and just walk away silently into the house, like Clint Eastwood after a victory in a spaghetti Western.
Message about The Who from my Facebook page:
You might also like...
What Will The Neighbors Say?!
Snow Day
What If Mommy Has ADHD?
This. Just this.
The Importance Of Embarrassing The Next Generation
We had the same thing in our car yesterday (minus the Who). Instead, we used Meatloaf!
Kids LOVE Meatloaf!
I might have done something like this in my own minivan, possibly involving one of Ike Reilly’s cleaner songs.
I do the same thing when the kids fight in the car!! Black Eyed Peas are one of my favorites
Glad I’m not the only one.
me too!
Nice…I’ve done this too. With The Who, Queen, and sometimes Elvis Costello. Because children need a proper education.
Well yes, they do!
Love The Who… we usually blare some type of rock music in the car.
Thanks Susi!
love it. like i said, you deserved the win. when you’re a winner, you’re a winner. you can’t help it {and gloat a little too, i mean, come on!}
oh, music is a tool in my box too. My daughter was just down right crabby the other day, so i showed her the youtube of “these boots are made for walking” – um. kinda racey for back in the day. Also, my 3 year old has some pretty fierce go-go moves now. total win-win.
Thanks Tara. (-:
Not only adult love it but also kids. Thanks for sharing this video.
I open the music in our car when my children are fighting.
Your daughter sounds so sweet and very funny! Contests are exciting, especially for something that means so much to you, like writing
Your last post was incredible, very deserving of the win!
My son hates loud music and noises but I like the idea of drowning out the bickering. And anything that ends in car dancing can’t be wrong!
Thanks Anna!
Well this is a clever way to get them to stop eh? Beats nagging and/or screaming
A mom has got to save her vocal chords.
I have totally done that. When they were babies and crying loudly my solution was to outdo them by cranking up the music. Is that wrong? I don’t know, but it completely saved me.
I apply it today, too. Arguing, bickering…and the music comes on strong. As a bonus, they’re becoming great lovers of all kinds of music. See? Everyone wins.
I find Led Zeppelin works well in this situation. “Communication Breakdown” shuts my kids up quickly.
Ha!
Alright, I’ve been thinking about Fiona a lot since you posted about her reaction last week. The thing is, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to win something. Your post last week was amazing. And really, all your writing is. If you and other great writers don’t link up to Yeah Write, there’s really no point in any of the rest of us linking up either. Not only would we miss out on an opportunity to become better writers ourselves by reading the good stuff, any win without real competitors would be meaningless. Keep up the good stuff, both in writing and parenting. Your girl has a great heart. (And music is magic!!)
Here, here. (Hear, hear?)
When did it become a negative thing to put quality out that and have it recognized? I get the sheepishness, but you have to overcome that to be great – and truly grateful. By not acknowledging how amazing your pieces are, you are insulting those of us who cried with you and clicked on yellow stars for you.
(See how I turned that around to make it a wicked bad thing to be modest? See that?)
Duly noted, and I do see how you turned it around. You’re good!
Sniffle, sniffle! You mean it’s okay to be a competitive p-p-person? (-:
I think I love you Stacey.
Thanks for that comment.
I don’t have kids to drown out, but I do have a significant other who LOVES the Who. He happened to be standing over me as I was reading this, asking me a question I didn’t have time to ponder, as I have a lot of yeahwrite posts still to cover. So I turned this up loud as you suggested. And he shut up, just like that, and listened, maybe even swayed a bit. And then he went away, happy. So thanks.
So glad I could be of help Stephanie! PS: Your significant other sure has good taste in music!
Hhahaahha good for you. I think that’s an excellent parenting technique.
Thank you kindly (-:
Oops, using music to drown them out is NOT a good parenting technique? Crap.
And you deserved the hattrick win, my dear friend. I know your daughter is modest and humble, both amazing qualities. However, sometimes, you need to be able to enjoy your successes without feeling guilty.
Thank you Alison! (-:
I have so done the blasting music thing. Except mine was Jay-Z. So now I feel like a punk. The Who seems so much classier
Don’t feel bad – I’ve done it with Flock of Seagulls and a really low parenting moment, SYLVESTER…
Ha! The part about Fiona basically shaking her finger at you cracks me up. Your daughters kill me and I don`t even know them!
Late night reading from my Questionable Parenting Techniques file: “How To Stop The Bickering in the backseat.” http://t.co/gkh7dsJ0
I’m filing this away for when my kids get older! BTW – You totally deserved the wins last week! The post was simply gold. I’m guessing everyone who read your piece voted for you, so there are probably no hard feelings. But I can understand feeling sheepish about all the attention.
“Baa, baa.” (-:
We’ve done it. We’ve turned up music to drown out the sound of on solitary pre-schoolers endless whining. Some days you have to or you’ll say what you’re really thinking
Ha! PS: Just picturing that evil kitty Pumpernickel on that kitchen floor – that could be a movie, you know.
Great idea! and no, it’s not abusive! Why doesn’t anyone ever get up in arms about how much they abuse US???
You totally earned that win last week and you deserved to bask in the glory of your awesomeness!
Well okay, let me get some sunglasses then…
Well played. Well played. Ellen
(-:
I just drowned them out with “China Grove” the other day–highly effective and fun as all get out! Especially when the bass kicks in…
Ha! I will have to try that one next time!
Awww… your daughter is amazing, just like you!
Thanks Jamie (-:
I fully approve this method. I am certain this is one parenting tip that I’ll be using myself in the future when I have children.
Who wouldn’t want to be car-dancing to The Who?
Sometimes a little Pete is all it takes. Thanks for reminding me of this tune. Hadn’t heard it in years. Those dudes look so young. I saw them live 10 years ago and their faces looked like old baseball gloves.
Do you watch “Louie”? There was an episode last year where he was driving his daughters who were whining and so he put on “Who Are You” and cranked it. Problem solved.
Oh that’s funny, I haven’t seen Louie.
Yes I hadn’t heard that song in years really myself – and then it came on and they were bickering…and there you have it.
How to Stop the Bickering in Your Minivan – Ado’s Quick & Effective Method http://t.co/I7hehSj3 via @sharethis