Thursday, March 08, 2007

Fighting Siblings

I don't know if it's the 900 square feet that we are living in, or the boxes we are all maneuvering around, but our space - or lack thereof - is getting to all of us. Luckily, we're moving. Until then I'm hoping to get a few words of advice form those who've gone before me.
Bradley and Emmy are just about ready to kill each other. Our plans were to keep them together sharing a room so the baby could have its own room. Now I'm not so sure. Maybe the baby should just go with whomever is the same gender. Part of me thinks, they need to work out their issues, but the other part of me doesn't want to deal with it and thinks it would minimize their fighting.
What would you do?

9 comments:

Jodie Haney said...

If you have a walk in closet, you could have the baby sleep in there. We did that for months. It worked out great...dark and quiet.
Then you can judge what you want to do once you are a little more settled.

Anonymous said...

I say, at the height of frustration with each other, give them real wands and put them in a room and say, "This is it." "Lets get ready to RUMBLE"! To the victor goes the spoils.
Probably the choice (letting them work it out(with guidance)) that is the hardest/most frustrating thing for the parents is also the best thing for the children.

Leslie said...

we thought we'd do the same-gender-share-with-the-baby thing, too. we changed our mind. the big kids share now, and now everyone has a nice, quiet room to sleep in.
as for the fighting, i say give it 2 weeks, i'm sure it's just a phase, and it might seem worse because you have major stress going on.
my 2 cents. :)

MIL said...

Howdy, In my humble opinion, siblings work better together so I think you're on the right track.
However, what do I know since we had the same gender? :>)
love, grandma ruth

Anonymous said...

I have the opportunity of looking at the fighting from another perspective...Most of the time while our boys were growing up...there was fighting fighting fighting. It was really hard for both Paul and myself as we did not have any personal reference to draw from...neither of us have siblings....However, I will say that fighting aside, all of our sons are good friends with each other now and enjoy each other's company. I think it is just symptom of the whole getting ready to move-mommy is pregnant-everything is going to change syndrome. Things will settle out sooner or later and everyone will remember this time with fondness. It is just another opportunity for you and Steven to learn patience!!!

tara said...

I agree with anon... the pregnant, lack of space, moving boxes combo. is not a good one! You'll know what you should do once you move in (o: Good luck with the move!

Audra said...

baby in the walk in closet does work - I know!

Lori said...

Well we put the two older kids together for about the first 9 months for Makayla, but then they started playing all night and wouldn't go to sleep so now we have moved Sydney and Makayla together and Ethan is by himself. They go to bed so much better now! As far as getting along it will get better once you have moved and into your new home! Remember the saying if Mom is stressed everyone is stressed. (altered a little)

Brian said...

Just let them fight. That is what Mom and Dad did with us...and we turned out nearly perfect...

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