This week has been….interesting…
I think that is the word for it, something along those lines anyway – but mainly it’s been “challenging”, “annoying” and “hair-pulling-outer-ing” which clearly isn’t a word, but I somehow feel that, this word, or similar should exist. Something that really shows the level of frustration in that really special onomatopoeia kind of way that really only the English language can achieve. A way that sums up how one feels when you have just had to deal with another situation where one child does seems to like the way the other child is “looking at them.”
I sometimes wonder whether I was a bit of a terror with my brother when I was younger. It is only know that I have kids myself that I really appreciate the patience that my mother probably had to show to keep things all calm and serene when I was probably being a little “git.” Not that my kids are “little gits” I should say, its just sometimes when you have, for the fiftieth time, found yourself saying that you wish that they would stop bickering; that there is a very good reason for having a large glass of wine when they are in bed this evening.
So in celebration of this sentiment for the week, this month’s parenting tips linky is all about siblings; from helping prepare to having a new one, to managing the rivalry between then. You can even link up posts that are demonstrating the gorgeous-ness that siblings can show each other. I know that happens, as it does even in our house sometimes!
The best advice I was ever given about managing siblings and their relationships was to step back….
Clearly one can’t do this if there is going to be bloodshed, however – if you feel that limbs will not be lost, it is worth letting them see if they can work it out for themselves. If we wade in and help all the time, how will they ever learn the art of negotiating for themselves with their sibling, or indeed, people in general.
So come along, and link up your posts to help us all out this month with our sibling related challenges, or just bask in our kids sibling glory – what is it to be?
Helen
Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine! Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time. KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10. It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania. Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on. Get in touch TODAY!