(Listen to the audio here.)
My brother is four years younger than I am. There’s nothing more annoying to a young girl than an energetic, pesky, younger brother. (I love you, bro!) Parents are equally annoyed at having to run interference. How many times did I hear my mother say to him (after all my complaining), “If I hear your name one more time…”
I talk a lot about stepping aside. This is another opportunity to practice this skill: whenever possible, let siblings work out their differences, no matter how much it makes you want to scream. They learn more about relationships, problem-solving and communication when you stay out of it.
Quotable quotes:
“It snowed last year, too: I made a snowman and my brother knocked it down and I knocked my brother down and then we had tea.” – Dylan Thomas
“Siblings are the people we practice on, the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and kindness and caring, quite often the hard way.” Pamela Dugdale
For more Tuesday Tips for Parents of Teens, articles and parent programs, go to www.yourfamilymatterscoach.com.