If American mothers were asked to indicate the most irritating feature of child rearing, I'm convinced that sibling rivalry would get their overwhelming vote. I'm Dr. James Dobson with Focus on the Family. You might have noticed that little children and older ones too are not content just to hate each other in private. They attack one another like miniature warriors. Arguing and fighting, and hitting and screaming and probing for weaknesses in the defensive line. It's enough to drive a mother crazy. But it doesn't need to be that way. It is neither necessary nor healthy to allow children to destroy each other and make life miserable for the adults around them. Let me offer one suggestion that should result in a calmer tone in the relationship between children. I strongly recommend that parents be careful not to inflame the natural jealousies between children. Ever since time began brothers and sisters have resented each others successes in the eyes of their parents. That's why mothers and fathers should be very careful to avoid casual comments that favor one of their kids over the other, especially in the areas of physical attractiveness, intelligence and athletic ability. Those are the three raw nerves on which self-esteem hangs in western society. Sensitivity in those areas will reduce the antagonism between siblings and create a more harmonious tone for every member of the family. I'm Dr. James Dobson for Focus on the Family.
(DDAYQ pp. 217-218)
Copyright © 1992 Focus on the Family,
All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.
0 comments:
Post a Comment