Page 166 - The Intentional Parent

out once. The second time, I'll turn it off and both of you will have to get away from one another." Then stick to your guns.
There are about half a billion sibling situations, but only two or three major themes. It's usually:
He/she took something of mine.
He/she got more than me.
I want him/her out of my life.
Read on for a sampling of these situations.
PESKY YOUNGR SIBS
My three-year-old son is always in my seven-year-old daughter's things. He pulls out her dolls and toys, barges into her room and makes a mess, and is generally annoying. This has been driving her crazy. I have tried to explain to her that he is only a baby, and he just wants her attention. Don't you think she should learn how to be patient?
Let's face it, even Mother Teresa has a limit to her patience. Your three-year-old son is a baby, and yes, your daughter should have a degree of tolerance of him. However, he is more than old enough to learn limits and the word No. Don't lay everything on your daughter—that's not fair, and it will reinforce the notion that her younger brother is the favored child. You must step in and make sure that your toddler learns to respect his sister's private things.
GOOD BEHAVIOR IN THE CAR
How can I get my kids to sit still and behave in the car?
The Intentional Parent by Peter J. Favaro, Ph.D. 166