This could happen anywhere
- Scarce resources make for interesting family times.
Enrique, 10, says, “Dad, can I have some ice cream?
Dad says, “There’s a little left. You can have it.”
Maria, 8, pipes up, “I want some.”
Enrique agrees to share with Maria. Dad is flabbergasted because Enrique has Asperger Syndrome and sharing is rare. Elated, dad goes back to reading his book.
Maria takes more than her fair share and eats it. Enrique discovers a piddling amount left and crows about the injustice for 15 minutes.
Dad tolerates Enrique’s complaints. He doesn’t rush out to the store. When Mom comes home, Dad reports the incident, which re-ignites Enrique’s whining, much to Dad’s annoyance.
This could happen in any family because there are always scarce resources, sibling rivalry, people who will share, and people who will take advantage of their generosity.
Dad asked our parenting workshop, “What to do?”
1. Appreciate that Enrique and Maria have each other to learn from. Sibling offer some of life’s richest lessons.
2. Put the issue on the family meeting agenda – always posted on the fridge, ready to diffuse tense situations and provide a calm forum later. Mom and Dad can ask the kids for ideas on how to handle such a situation in the future, such as “You cut, I pick.”
Write down viable suggestions and agree on which ones to follow, even if parents do not fully support them. Give kids’ suggestions a full trial, which will nurture your child’s self-esteem, connect them to the family, give them faith in the family meeting system and confidence that they will be treated with mutual respect.
During “compliments” Dad can recognize Enrique for sharing, even though sharing doesn’t alway work out. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t share again.
This is why I advocate family meetings. They are valuable forums to work out problems, connect to the family and nurture a child’s self-esteem and self-confidence.
3. Allowing Enrique and Maria to work it out allows them to learn how to manage emotions and behavior. Usually these lessons are painful. Welcome to life – for typical people and those with special needs.
4. Dad can report to Mom out of earshot of Enrique. This would have eliminated the nuisance of chapter two of the complaining.
5. Dad and Mom can privately agree to NOT intervene in the sibling rivalry and announce the new policy at the family meeting. They must follow through by leaving the area, putting on headphones or earmuffs, asking the kids to take it outside, putting the issue on the family meeting, and encouraging the children by saying, “I know you two can work it out.” This is having a plan. Things may get worse before they get better because the kids will test the parents’ new behavior.
YAY Dad for not running out to buy more ice cream, which may create entitlement.
What I love about this scenario is that it exemplifies family life. Having a plan ready, knowing that sibling rivalry is normal and allowing them to work it out allows parents and kids to manage their emotions and behavior.
Explore posts in the same categories: Family meetings, let them work it out, mutual respect, parenting classes, self esteem, sibling rivalryTags: Encouragement, family connection, parenting about, parenting plan
You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.
