Help!!

My 8 (almost 9) BBG kids get super excited about something (a trip, a party, even a fun playdate) and they become like Tasmanian Devils -loud, rambunctious, with excessive physical interaction (bumping, pushing, that often escalates to hitting). I try being calm and reasonable, but it seems to fall on deaf ears. Then I threaten punishment(loss of a week's allowance) and it still has no impact. Then after an hour (or sometimes several), my patience wears thin and I take away major privileges (no allowance and no TV or video games for a week) and I finally get a reaction - except it's one of tears and "you are the meanest mom ever".

I am at my wit's end. Any suggestions?? Please???

Laura
Cameron, Griffin & Maya (8/8/03)x(

Wish I had an answer for you. Mine are about 3 weeks younger than yours and can get pretty wild themselves. They were so wild when they were supposed to get to bed last night that I finally had to give DS a spank or 2. I think they are getting old enough that just the humiliation of being spanked is somewhat of a deterrant. It doesn't happen very often and is only a last resort for us when other things have failed. He had used up several warnings before we resorted to it.

Andi
g/b/g
triplets in 3rd grade