My heart races as I listen to my kids in the other room. I can tell their play has taken a turn and is now getting sticky. I listen a little longer to see if they can work it out.
Nope — things have escalated. I move quickly, hoping to break it up, but it’s too late. My youngest is crying and yelling, while my other kid still looks like they want to hurt someone.I hate seeing my kids fight.
I do all I can to prevent it, but it is inevitable. Siblings fight, and that’s normal. (Even as a therapist, it’s hard for me to accept this!) What I can control is my response to the fighting.
I can step in, set loving limits, and try to teach my children that, while some conflict is normal, there are productive ways to manage emotions and handle disagreements so that things can go a little better next time.
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