The Witching Hour
In our house, those hours between 4pm — 6pm have become known as ‘The Witching Hour’. For some unknown reason, that time of the day is when the children completely lose their cool, constantly fight with other and wreck the house and my head along with it.
It is not every day, just some days and particularly during winter when going out is often not an option. On days when there are after school activities it’s not an issue but on ‘home days’ come 4pm, homework is done and playtime is ongoing and suddenly the house descends into chaos, usually in the following sequence.
1. The first fight: Small boy breaks/bends or generally misbehaves himself with a toy belonging to Big Girl.
Followed by: First intervention by Mummy. Small Boy is told to leave his sister’s stuff alone. Everyone is asked to get along nicely.
2. The second fight: Big Girl seeking revenge is nasty to Small Boy. Normally by one of the following means (a) Teases him (b) Hurts him by pretending to take out his tonsils (c ) Won’t give back one of his toys.
Followed by: Second intervention by Mummy. Big Girl is scolded while she pretends she did not know that what she was doing to Small Boy was wrong. Both children are told, they must play in separate rooms if they can’t play nicely together.
3. Children begin screaming at each other, sitting on each other, and rolling around the floor on top of each other. They suddenly discover that they are hilarious company. Levels of giddiness reach fresh heights.
Followed by: Third, fourth and fifth intervention by Mummy. Mummy starts to progressively lose her cool BIG TIME. Children are separated. Children cry, agree to play together nicely.
4. Small Boy bangs his head into the bookcase in the hall after playing football with the cat’s teddy. Small Boy howls uncontrollably. Big Girl howls uncontrollably. She hates to see her brother cry (unless she instigates it).
Followed by: Intervention from Daddy who is trying to work at home today. Soothes children. Placates Mummy who is about to leave the house and never return.
5. It is dark out. The dog is brought in for the evening. Children hug dog. Cat frightens the bejayzus out of dog who scrapes the solid wooden floor that was bought on a whim, before children or pets and now rivals the cat’s scratching post for gouges.
Followed by: Mummy screaming at everyone and every animal in the house. Dog (innocent party) looks most guilty.
6. Dinner is served.
Followed by: Silence, blessed silence.
Warning: Sequence of house descending into chaos may have been exaggerated for creative purposes.
But I kid you not, this is a regular occurrence in our house. I know from talking with other parents that this is normal in their houses too. The Witching Hour can differ from season to season. In the summer time, when the children spend so much time outdoors, the house still descends into chaos, this time it just starts in the garden.
It’s not possible to have after school activities every day and I’m a firm believer that kids need some down time at home and to amuse themselves somewhat. I wonder if ‘The Witching Hour’ is fuelled by tiredness, hunger, boredom, or a combination of factors? I also wonder if it will change as the children start sulking as they become teenagers? Or is it me? Am I simply too impatient between 4–6pm? Am I looking forward to a bit of quiet and just become too on edge at that stage of the day?
Maybe it’s time to don a tall black hat, put that pesky cat on my broomstick and join in ‘The Witching Hour’. As the saying goes ‘If you can’t beat them, join them’.
