This seems to come up just about every day. I must admit, Vera and I are very lucky. We really do have good, sweet kids. 90% of the time, they get along quite well and really are nice to each other. That being said, there are those times when they get in a fighting mood and can’t seem to get out. Vera and I have a ZERO tolerance policy for this. There is no wiggle room after about 30 seconds or a couple rounds of jabs. We just don’t want it to become part of life.
“No, it’s not ok to fight with your brother/sister. You are best friends and you love each other. You are lucky to have each other.” That may be a big part of the way we handle it all…neither of us have siblings. We have no idea what it’s like. We can only imagine.
Admiring, knowingly, through rose colored glasses of lifetime friendships and family picnics. Sure people fight and fall out of touch, but there are more than enough people that stay good friends. People in Garden City all seem to come back to town and have their families very close by. It’s quite heartening to witness, really. It gives us hope, corny enough, that we all will continue to live in Garden City and the kids and grandkids will be a regular fixture in our daily lives.
Vera and I would want nothing less. So, as the days progress, and Liam and Natalie become more and more like mini-adults, we’ll see how it goes. We’ll play it by ear, but we’ll never relent. They are best friends.
And that’s the way we want it to be.
10 comments
My parents used the same zero tolerance policy when my sister and I used to fight. It worked because as I got into my teens I realized she is my only true best friend. There is nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for her and I know she feels the same for me. It’s just us two girls and we couldn’t be closer sisters. So much so our friends say it’s “weird in a good way” how close we are. LOL
That’s AWESOME!!! Thanks so much for letting me know that. I can only hope we’ll be so lucky. So nice to hear. Good for you!
My kids fight 90% of the time! You are lucky or medicate them.
Is medicating them…wrong?? ;o)
I love this, Bill! I think it’s so important to (at least try to) raise children as family AND friends. I cherish my relationships with my 3 siblings and always have! And our parents always encouraged – no, demanded – that we all get along, support and love each other.
That’s why you are such a great family!
thanks for the laugh. : DD
I would just be sure to try to see both sides of the story and show them that they can be both right and wrong, that its natural to disagree at times. I’d be very compassionate to both of them.
Its painful to fight, being a sister myself, i know.
Love to you all!
Siblings Without Rivalry is an amazing book on this subject. Teaches them how to resolve differences without the need for referees.
Touching post, Bill. I’m an only child too and I think those with siblings are extremely lucky!