A Note on Sibling Rivalry

willwiess's story

July 23, 2007

My 13-year old daughter and 8-year old son used to get along famously. These days, however, the age gap is much more prevalent and my wife and I are forced to endure more and more arguments between the two. They are usually limited to your standard verbal fights, though every one-in-a-while they get a little more physical. This happens rarely, and when it does, they?ve know that hitting back will only get them both into trouble.

So my son has learned to get a little more creative in his retaliatory techniques. They recently got into an argument, which culminated with my son crying and complaining that his sister had hit him. She was honest and about what had occurred and so I sent her to her room as punishment. Once my son calmed down, he went back to his room and all seemed well. In fact, neither my wife nor I noticed how he got his sister back until much later that night when we passed by our daughter?s room and say a sign taped to her door.

It read (spelling errors and all), ?Hi, I?m Nara Wiess and I am afraed of evrey thing and I like to wet my bed. And I poop and pee myself evrey 4 minutes. It?s fun, try it!?

Not even my daughter could stop herself from laughing at that one.