Pleasing all your children

As my three youngest children get older, I am finding it more and more difficult to accommodate everyone. When I picked the two middle children up from HeadStart today I turned up the music because a song that I know my 3-year-old daughter likes came on.

Andre, the 4 year old (he'll be 5 this month), who sits all the way in the back where the speakers are a little louder immediately covered his ears and said it was too loud. I turned it down a little. Amareah said she couldn't hear it.

I ended up changing the knob from front and back to just front. Then it seemed too loud for me (as Andre smiled), but I didn't say anything or change it. Then, wouldn't you know it, Amareah said it wasn't loud enough.

"It's loud enough," I say, showing my irritation a little.

This seems to be more of a common occurrence. They can't agree on the snack they want, the movie they want to watch, the show they're going to watch or anything else in between. I have decided that I am not going to be doing two of everything (and then three when the baby gets old enough to voice her opinion); they are going to have to learn how to come to an agreement.

The only time they get to choose what they eat is snack time and they can choose from one of two things. Amareah tried to go outside of those two things today, but I stood my ground. When they can't decide what movie they want to watch -- I decide. If they argue over a toy and won't share -- I take it away.

I normally iron their clothes for the week so they get to choose what they're going to wear from the choices that are already ironed. Not a big deal. But I don't know how long it'll take for them to understand that they have to work together or they're going to miss out. How do you please all of your children? What rules have you put into place for your children to make life a little easier for you?