A Test Of Brotherly Love Or The Lack Thereof

My boys. My dear sweet, fighting boys. Siblings at their finest I tell you. Maybe I should say sibling rivalry at it’s finest.

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for the summer to be over. Maybe ready for this season of life to be over. I can hold on to the hope that when they’re teens they’ll do more bonding instead of boxing.

My girls were that way. As toddlers they would argue a lot. Same through adolescence. As they became teens most of that died away. They became involved in their own things, their own lives with their own friends. They were also only 2 years apart. I think that age difference made them closer to each other.

The boys are 4 years apart. I think the further apart the kids are spaced the greater the jealousy and rivalry. One boy could make extremely obnoxious noises one day while the other one complains about it and the next day the roles are reversed. I do try to point this out to them. Not that it sinks in, but I don’t want them to be oblivious to the contradiction.

When we lived in our previous house, referred to as “The Blue House” on the lake. There, my girls had a couple of friends on the street. Yes, where we lived there was only one street. No boys to play with in the area, but my oldest son was only 7 and under when we lived there.

Then we moved to the new house outside of town, just the opposite direction. There are a number of boys around us, on this yet again, single street, and a dirt road. Only problem here? These boys are all the same age as my oldest son. There’s one girl that lives next door. She has the same name as my youngest son, just spelled differently. Anyhow, they’re in the same grade, but my Doodle doesn’t always want to play with a girl.

So, this problem comes in when they’re all playing together. Doodle is left out, ignored or hears stuff I just would rather not have him hearing. Well, the same goes for my oldest son when it comes to the stuff these other boys talk about.

I have tried over and over again to instill in Buddy the importance of being the big brother, what my expectations are, and how to stand up for what’s right. I realize he’s only 12, but if I don’t start planting those seeds in him now, when should I? It’s not that I’m just starting to do that either, probably the last couple years as these boys play more and more together.

I’m one of those moms who has NO problem calling a spade a spade. If these boys are all blatantly being mean, hurtful, or bullying, I’ll call them on it. I will go right up to all of them and tell them that it’s not ok to do that to ANYONE and if it keeps up, they can all go home for all I care. Don’t mess with me. Your parents may not give a crap what you do, what you say, or how you treat people, but trust you me, I care and I’ll tell you what I think!

Those kids don’t scare me! LOL

Now I need some help. I’m not used to these boys. I know everyone says girls argue with their words and boys argue with their fists. Just because that might be common doesn’t mean I find that acceptable.

Do you have boys? If so, do you have any suggestions? Ringing their necks or bonking their heads together isn’t an option. Tying them up facing each other HAS crossed my mind. Solitary confinement has flitted through my brain. Anything else would be a great addition!