Moms Talk: Sibling Rivalry

Each week the Mentor Patch Moms Council answers a question on parenthood posed to them by readers or another member of council.

This week's question: How do you referee arguments/fights between your children? How can you deal with sibling rivalry?

Mary Jo Stack:

Oh, this is a fun one. And I'm not sure there is one pat answer for the question.

I think each argument and situation is unique. Each age is unique. Sometimes I've tried to referee, sometimes I think they need to work it out among themselves.

I think it was much easier to intervene when they were younger. I could even get them to say they were sorry to each other back then.

There have been plenty of times I have defused the situation simply by laughing. That gets them to stop and stare at me wondering why I am laughing. I then tell them how ridiculous their arguing sounds. And things calm down.

Other times, it's important to really talk about the problem they may be having with each other. Sometimes, both are appeased, sometimes only one and sometimes no one is but c'est la vie.

The most important thing is to make sure each one knows how much you love them.