I just termed 9 and 10yo boys after a month from absolute hell. I will never take children that old again.

It was constant wrestling, throwing toys and furniture, making fun of my kids, making fun of ME, talking back, yelling at me when I asked them to do something, I could go on for DAYS. It culminated in them wrestling so bad they threw each other on my futon in my playroom (that has lasted through 5 years of constant use from my family and dckids) and breaking, actually snapping, the metal frame. The next day, they spilled water on my floor, I gave them paper towels to clean it up, and they promptly flushed a HUGE wad of paper towel down my toilet, clogging it so badly we had to call a plumber!

They ended up costing me more than they brought in, they taught my own children a ton of terrible habits and language I'm now trying to correct, and they were rude, inconsiderate little jerks, frankly. I don't have a TV in my playroom and couldn't leave them unattended for a split second without them destroying something or reducing my son to tears, so putting on TV or a movie for them wasn't an option. Dad sent them with tablets (without consulting me) but those only held their attention for about 10 minutes.

Bottom line, I am geared towards toddlers and kindergarteners, like most of us are, and they were bored. My toys didn't interest them, and apparently all they did at home was "watch simpsons and skateboard," so I couldn't entertain them. They were not interested in crafts, activities, board games, etc, anything I tried. They couldn't have cared less if I was angry with them, they simply laughed hysterically.

Kids this age need to be in after-school programs that can let them RUN and burn off excess energy, IMO. Not to say ALL older children will act the way my 2 hooligans did, but if they're that bad right off the bat, with no "honeymoon period" of finding out what they can get away with around you, they're not going to get any better. I should have termed them the day after they started. Instead I held on for a month and ended up losing money over their destruction.

Speak to the parents and put them on probation. I tried, and it did nothing, but maybe you'll have better luck. If that doesn't work and their behaviour continues to escalate, get out now. That's my 2 cents. Good luck!