Remember I don’t grab my camera most of the time when kids are fighting…I’m too busy sweating it out being the referee to take pictures :). We have sibling rivalry and arguments…mostly about clothes (maybe that’s just what happens when you have a bunch of girls). But I think in general these kids really do adore each other and for that I’m so grateful.
I posted “ten ideas to foster strong sibling relationships” back HERE in answer to similar questions as yours not too long ago, so check that out. There are some good ideas in the comment section as well.
I do worry, as I mentioned back there, that technology is hindering relationships of all kinds…including the sibling ones. How can kids bond when they’re constantly looking at a screen? We need to actively do things together, in person, talking to real human beings to really bond, and I think technology squeezes out a bunch of that. So rather than just wringing my hands about it, Dave and I are working out a master plan to try to combat this. I’m doing a little experimenting before I write up the plan here, but hopefully it will make a positive twist.
Bottom line back to the original question though, I think the way people bond the most is spending time together (family dinners, family traditions, family road trips, etc.), learning how to repent and make amends (sitting on the “fighting bench” to take ownership of personal actions), and serving one another in any way you can make it happen. Lots more details and links to even more details back in that post (HERE).
So much more to say in so many different areas but I’m out for now. Happy Friday!
Would love to hear more about what you are doing with technology. As a teacher I see and hear so many bad things around kids and technology that I feel heartsick about the world my son will grow up in.
I was also wondering if you could share about how you pray as a family, if that is not too personal a question 🙂 I'm looking to jazz up our family prayer time, it is very repetitious and lacking in meaning at the moment, so any pointers would be great.
Thank you so much for this blog, you have no idea how much you have inspired me!
I just read your post about how to get better sibling relationships. I liked the idea of family testimony and have read that in your parents books, but I had to think…there is no way teenagers (or 4 year olds that act like teenagers haha) would sometimes totally reject that idea and refuse to bear their testimony, maybe not every time. What do you/your parents do with that situation? It seems like forcing that would just make them resent the idea more. My oldest is 4, I'm just trying to think of future scenarios and how to handle them.