Sibling Rivalry

Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field," and Cain assaulted his brother and killed him. Jacob fled to another country to hide from Esau, and Joseph's brothers threw him in a cistern, and then sold him. Can one dispute the facts, that sibling rivalry can be precarious to one's health, based on these famous Bible stories? Maybe our children aren't this nefarious, but if parents allow children to brawl and express animosity they may indeed face the devastations of siblings causing great bodily harm or murder against each other. While inhabitants believe sibling rivalry is conventional, there are many who have conflictive views. I personally believe parents must intervene when siblings skirmish, and teach children early on to resolve and reconcile promptly after quarrels or assaults, if we don't enforce loving each other they probably won't.

There are special siblings that are naturally bonded due to the parent's abandonment or death. This issue is pandemic starting as early as toddlers to senior citizen siblings whose rivalry is pure hatred. The definition of rivalry is - a person or thing that competes with another. Meditate on that my friend. As demonstrated above based on Uncle Webster, rivalry is simply competition opposed to the betrayal, hatred, jealousy, or murder of a sibling. "Feelings, nothing more than feelings," you say, well I've witnessed siblings disputing and the parent was the main instigator in the ordeal. There are parents who encourage the other sibling to retaliate toward their sibling. Is that why they say with family like this who needs enemies (yes, I know its friends)? I am a parent now for 15 years and this curse is rebuked, my children love and bond with each other. Yes, all children have disagreements, but it is the manner in which you teach them to resolve their disputes, and that's what most families lack today. There are effective tools from sibling workshops to sibling and family counseling to help your children bond. Parents and children aren't perfect but love is needed to build the foundation that I call sibling love.