Summer break means a whole lot of family time for my trio of kids and me. While togetherness can be great, it often leads to relentless bickering. Seriously, I think I spend about 87% of my day playing referee—just one of my many roles, along with being the taxi driver, chef, and maid. At this point, I’d rather endure a root canal than listen to them argue for another moment!
Desperate for a solution, I took to the internet searching for wisdom from parenting gurus, hoping to find a magical tip that would turn my little ones into harmonious angels, joyfully skipping through meadows while singing Kumbaya. Instead, I was met with some advice that felt more like a bad joke. Here are some of the “brilliant” suggestions I stumbled upon:
- Cultivate Patience. I’m pretty sure the only “child” this expert has is a pet goldfish.
- Create a Kindness List. I can almost hear my kids rolling their eyes. The most polite thing my daughter recently told her brother was, “Please move your gross arm away from me; your skin is dry.” Hey, at least she used “please!”
- No Sharing Toys. Hahahaha! I think I just peed a little from laughing.
- Spend More Time Together. Um, the last fight was about being too close! We don’t need more togetherness; we need some space!
- Start Each Day in Harmony. Shakes head with disbelief.
- Listen to Both Sides. Sure, I’d love to hear them explain who touched the last Popsicle first while they scream like two pterodactyls fighting over the last piece of bubble wrap!
- Space Them Apart by Three Years. Great advice for someone who’s not currently living in a sibling rivalry. I can’t just hit rewind on my life!
- Don’t Accuse. Children are notorious for bending the truth. I can’t stay calm when my ten-year-old swears he didn’t hit his sister—despite the cartoon-sized bump on her forehead!
- Celebrate Their Fights. “What a wonderful chance to teach conflict resolution!” said no parent ever.
- Lock Them in Separate Rooms and Grab a Drink. Oh wait, that’s my suggestion. Now we’re talking!
If you want to take a break from the chaos, you might find useful tips on our other blog, which you can check out here. And for more authoritative information, visit Make a Mom, a great resource on this topic. For those curious about fertility and related health, Science Daily has excellent articles to explore.
In summary, sibling rivalry can feel endless, but with a little humor and the right resources, we can navigate the chaos of family life together.