It was one of those days. The boys were fighting. Nonstop fighting. "Max looked at me!" "Harrison said he didn't want to play!" "Max isn't playing what I want to play!" I'm use to this, I hear it practically every day. As I affectionately say quite often, they were being total assholes (I say this behind their backs, so this makes it totally okay, right???) But on this day, my husband had had it.
"I'm sick of this. They're going to hug out their bitchiness," he said, walking into the living room. I was just thrilled to not be the one handling this round of bickering.
I don't remember exactly what was said, but I clearly remember the end of the conversation. Sorry's had been said and my husband told the boys to give each other a hug.
"Awww, isn't that sweet? Now, you hug it out for five minutes. I'm setting the timer, hug out your anger, and when the timer goes off, you'll be buddies again."
So for five whole minutes, there my kids stood. Pinching each other's backs, squeezing just a little too tight, digging their toe nails into each other, and letting out under the breath growls at each other. When they parted ways, hubby reminded them that if there was anymore fighting, they would be hugging it out again (this time for longer). We were treated to a very quiet house the rest of the afternoon. Hugging out the bitchiness seems to be temporarily effective for those moments that you just can't take the whining and complaining one more minute.
Having a day like that with your kids? Just remember the phrase "hug it out bitch." Hug. It. Out.