Updated: February 19, 2021
Originally Published: March 16, 2015
Summer vacation means endless family time for my household of five. While this can be enjoyable, it often turns into a battleground of sibling disputes. I find myself playing referee for what feels like 87% of my day. As much as I cherish the role—along with being a taxi driver, chef, housekeeper, and activity planner—I’m yearning for a breather from the constant squabbling. I’d rather endure a thousand paper cuts than witness another argument!
One day, I took to the internet, hoping to find wisdom from the so-called “parenting experts.” Surely, someone had a magical fix that would have my kids merrily skipping through fields, hand in hand, serenading each other with sweet melodies. What I stumbled upon, however, was not only impractical but also bafflingly out of touch with reality. Here’s a rundown of some “helpful” advice that left me shaking my head.
- Cultivate Patience: I can only imagine the “child” this expert speaks of is a pet, because real kids test your patience like nothing else.
- Create Kindness Lists: I can practically hear my kids rolling their eyes. The most pleasant thing my daughter recently told her brother was, “Please keep your gross arm away from me. You have dry skin.” A win, right?
- Avoid Forcing Toy Sharing: Hahaha! What planet are these experts from? Sharing is a myth in our house!
- Spend Quality Time Together: If my kids spent any more time together, they might just end up debating who gets the last Popsicle while sitting shoulder to shoulder.
- Start Your Day in Harmony: Scoffs Is this a joke?
- Hear Both Sides: Sure, I’d love to listen to my kids argue about who touched the last Popsicle. But with their screams echoing like pterodactyls mating on bubble wrap, I can barely catch a word.
- Space Them Out: This advice is utterly useless. I’m reading an article about sibling rivalry because I already have more than one child. Unless someone invents a time machine, I’m stuck with my current setup!
- Avoid Accusations: Kids are notorious little fibbers. It’s hard to stay calm when my 10-year-old swears he didn’t hit his sister with a wiffle bat, despite the cartoonish bump on her head.
- Embrace Their Fights: “What a wonderful chance to teach conflict resolution!” said no parent in the history of parenting.
- Separate Them and Enjoy a Drink: Now that’s the best advice I’ve heard all day! Perhaps I’m onto something here!
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Summary
Managing sibling rivalry is a challenge many parents face, especially during the summer months. While experts offer various tips, the reality often doesn’t align with their advice. From creating kindness lists to encouraging harmony, the suggestions can seem impractical. Ultimately, it may be best to embrace the chaos and find humor in the situation.