PARENTING: July 2, 2007 Issue

PUTTING A STOP TO SIBLING RIVALRY

JULIE TREVOR-ROBERTS

CONSTANT FIGHTING, bickering, competing, and jealousy—they're all the classic signs of sibling rivalry that most parents have confronted at one time or another. But this isn't exactly a new phenomenon. Look at the story of Joseph in the Bible. Joseph's brothers' jealousy ran so deep that they sold him into slavery and deceived their father into thinking he'd been attacked and killed by wild animals. The rivalry parents see in their children today seldom goes to those extremes, but many parents find it's an issue driving them to prayer.

When I was growing up, my two siblings and I just couldn't get along. But now that we're adults, we're all good friends with a very special bond. What caused this turn-around? I believe it was, among other things, the fact that we let go of past grudges and began seeing each other in a more Christlike light—one that acknowledged our deeper spiritual natures.

This program in my family has helped me lessen the signs of sibling rivalry between my own young son and daughter. It used to be that they'd just fight and fight with each other, often competing for attention or some desired object. Sometimes there would be screaming, biting, hitting, pushing. For a while, I just brushed it off as a combination of toddler and sibling behavior.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

SENTINAL WATCH

DEFYING DIFFERENCES WITH LOVE