I Believe: Teach Your Kids To Protect Each Other

February 21, 2012 by 2 Comments

20120221-084843.jpg

From the time they could recognize each other, my small people have been aware of Rule #1 in our house:

PROTECT EACH OTHER.

My younger brother and I are only two and a half years apart and we have never been close.  We are, in fact, so very different, it is often difficult to imagine we were raised in the same family.  I am incredibly proud of him, of all he has become (he’s a brilliant chef and just opened a brand new restaurant in NYC if you are in the area or might be visiting) and the husband he is to his wonderful wife.  But it doesn’t change the fact that we weren’t close when we were 7 and 5, or 13 and 11, or 21 and 19.  And not now.

And I want something different for my small people.  I know I can’t control their personalities, but I do everything I can to nurture their desire to protect each other.

So far, it is working. Don’t get me wrong – they FIGHT.  They are unkind to each other.  They name-call and push.  But they also hold hands and have tender nick-names for each other.  They let the other ‘go first’ and sacrifice desserts to give to each other.  When they say prayers at night, they often compliment the other’s performances on the soccer field, on a test or just playing in the backyard.

They are PROUD of each other.  And good heavens – just let another kid say something mean – they are the FIRST to jump to the defense of one another.

Now… I know I can’t predict the future and maybe they won’t always stay close, but for now…

I believe in Sibling Love and nurturing their need to protect each other.

No related posts.

Filed Under: Featured Content, I Believe, Recent Posts Tagged With: , , ,
  • Carolyn

    Beautiful article Danielle, definately a shared goal for both of us.  I wish I knew the secret in my family that has kept us all the best of friends but sadly, I think it was losing one of us that made us closer.  When I see my girls fight and speak ugly to each other,  I try to hold out hope for the future because Jackie and I did not have any relationship whatsoever until I was in college and look at us now :) The closeness between D. and Coop is very visible so I have no doubt they will be lifelong BFFs!

  • http://www.therehanfamily.com/ The Rehan Family

    We feel the same way, here in our home. While they are constantly bickering and fighting, there are always those wonderful heart-melting moments of tenderness to balance things out. And I love the mentality they have of “ONLY I CAN SAY/DO THAT TO MY SIBLING”. They can be mean, or hit, or call a name, but the instant someone else does it, that fierce protective nature comes out. I remind my children, when they are fighting, that there will never be another sibling for them…they are all they have…one another, and if something were to happen to the other, how sad they would feel. I also try to remind them to cherish each other, and respect each other. I feel content in the fact that should something ever happen to myself, or my hubby, my children will lean on each other, and protect one another.