Archive for the Siblings Category

One Athletic Son, One Lethargic Son; What is a Parent to do?

Dear Sharon,
We have two sons, 8 & 12. Our older son is a terrific soccer player and is slim and fit. Our youngest son is pudgy and overeats. He has the opposite personality and lacks
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Sibling Rivalry

Dear Sharon,
Give me some advice please as to how to deal with brothers who are constantly fighting with each other. One is 10 and the other is 8 and they are always
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Leaving Siblings Home Alone

My son is 11 and he is pretty certain that he is old enough to chaperone his 9-year-old brother when we go out for an evening. He thinks he’s ready to handle personal responsibility and we’re not agreeing. Many of his friends are in fact being left alone for some reasons, and he complains that we treat him like a baby. What do you think? How does a parent determine these things? He’s ticked off at having a “baby sitter”.
Dear Parent,

Requests to be left home alone can be very common at this age as many pre-teens are eager to “spread their wings” and begin to experience the independent spirit of adolescence. Continue reading