My children sometime drive me up the wall! I have tried some of everything!

[airhair]

I have took things from them but give them right back!

[mommagoes]

 i've learned that you either have to play the hard-@$$ or the softie but you can't do both or they'll never learn to mind you. with that said, i also think you should pick your battles. personally, i don't think its worth a meltdown because my son didn't make his bed before school, but he knkows it has to be made before he can even ask to play video games. he also knows that there are just some things that are non-negotiable, such as homework habits, eating what's served for dinner, and the kinds of videogames/tv/language that he's allowed to play/watch/use, and that if those things are done without debate, i'll be more likely to let him do stuff, or let other things slide.

[AmyTrivitt]

If your punishing them by taking things away BUT then giving it right back to them. Sorry but its your own fault. You have to lay down the law, You are the parent and they are the children. You cannot let your kids walk all over you. Honestly do you want them to grow up and act like this?
I know its hard sometimes to hear them cry, but ALL kids need discipline. What gets my kids is either going to the corner with nose pressed to wall or grounded to their rooms for a certain amount of time. Another idea you could try is taking away an outing wether it be just in the front yard,park, ect. Your kids may act mad and pretend they hate you, BUT it will get the point across to your children not to do whatever it was they did to get into trouble in the first place!!
GOOD LUCK

[dreamyxo]

I'm not a parent but growing up I knew my parents were the boss, not my friends but what they said goes period.  I didn't even think to act out of line because I knew especially from my mother that she did not play and if I even thought about acting up I didn't fear anything but her wrath.  Not saying your kids have to fear you ( I'm grown and still afraid of my mother to this day  ) but they need to know that you mean business, no if's and's or but's.  It's starts from birth.