The Shirt

We are in our second week of summer vacation and the boys are fighting like cats and dogs.  

I typically do not give Justice his ADHD medication in the summer so he will have a better appetite and gain a little weight.  In other words, he's hyperactive and loud.  Jackson likes to keep things quiet around the house, and sudden movements and loud noises annoy him.  Tensions run high, and BAM!  Jack explodes.  Justice reacts by being even louder.  The yelling and crying quickly evolves into a physical altercation.  Justice does not get physical with Jackson unless he is protecting himself.  Jackson always throws the first punch, bites first, or kicks first.  Justice pins him to the ground to keep him from hurting him.  Jack panics, gets claustrophobic and that makes him even more angry.

And all hell breaks loose.  

Jackson screams "NEVER TOUCH ME AGAIN, I DON'T WANT YOU TO TOUCH ME!!!"  

Justice yells "FINE, I DON'T LIKE TOUCHING YOU ANYWAY!"

Oh, what's that you say?   Neither of you want to touch each other?  I can fix THAT.  

And Mama SNAPS.

I'm folding laundry.  I have a t-shirt in my hand.  I remember something I saw on Pinterest.  The fighting shirt.  I can do that, and I can do it right this second.

I force both boys to the ground and make them put on the one shirt that I am holding in my hand.  Jackson screams 

"NOOOOOOOOO.   I DON'T WANT TO TOUCH BUBBIE AT ALL!"

That's even better.  Justice cries.  Jack cries.  Jack REALLY hates The Shirt.  

I made them sit in The Shirt for about 20 minutes.  Jack tells me that he hates The Shirt.  He claims he will never be mean to his Bubbie again.  His Bubbie is traumatized by The Shirt.  I tell them they will get The Shirt every time I hear loud fighting voices or if any physical violence ensues.

I got ten straight hours of peace and quiet today.  

They fear The Shirt.