Has any game of “Monkey in the Middle” not eventually ended in tears? Seriously. Ever? If it goes on long enough, someone cries. It’s a law of the universe.
Eventually the two bigger kids are going to get the ball and the little ones will be the monkey. Insert tears here because either the little one gets frustrated and starts crying or ends up tackling one of the bigger kids. It’s Darwinism in my own backyard!
So I just banned that particular sport from the Archbold house…FOREVER!!!!! I even said, “Monkey in the middle is evil!”
May not be the most reasonable thing I’ve ever said or done but right now I’m pretty sure I’m right. I’m watching the kids sulk on the swings right now. They’re probably talking about how evil I am.
July 17, 2012 at 5:57 pm
We play that all the time in the pool. Love that game…even if it is evil!!
July 17, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Spoken like a younger child. It teaches appropriate use of strength, authority and leadership to the older kids and the younger one, in the middle, learns to submit to appropriate authority and not to start crying or the game gets banned.
July 17, 2012 at 6:30 pm
Once you hit a certain critical mass of kids, EVERY game ends in tears because someone loses, gets hurt, hogs the toys, says something annoying, or gets bored.
My solution is to send everyone to their rooms for a long time-out (an hour). Inevitably, after the first 5 minutes, nap time sets in, the wailing stops, and I stop wanting to murder someone.
July 17, 2012 at 6:41 pm
I say you are the parent. If you want to ban it because it drives you crazy, ban it. It's your house. I wouldn't care if the kids think you're evil. They will think that anyway. (Imagine the little ones saying how evil you were to allow monkey-in-the-middle to continue.)
July 17, 2012 at 6:43 pm
"Monkey in the Middle" isn't as bad as "Dodge Ball."
July 17, 2012 at 7:00 pm
That game is totally forbidden here too. Know what they call Monkey in the Middle when people who don't like each other play it? Bullying.
July 18, 2012 at 1:49 am
My youngest ends up in tears. Each. And. Every. Time.
July 18, 2012 at 2:14 am
That's true, Amy– the difference between Monkey in the Middle and Keep Away is… ???
July 19, 2012 at 7:42 pm
We can play it with our dog for hours. 🙂