All siblings bicker with each other, and my kids are no different. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, look out. I try to remove myself from the situation, and hide. I don’t want to get into their “sister drama.”

The other night at the dinner table, they started bickering. Nothing causes my blood pressure to go up faster than their little voices going on and on about silly little things. Especially, at the dinner table.

“Please stop,” I said to them in a calm voice.

They didn’t pay any attention to me. They kept at it. It was quite annoying, but I was eating my dinner, and didn’t want to walk away.

I said it again, this time raising my voice a little louder, thinking that would work. I privately congratulated myself on being cool and calm.

It didn’t work. They didn’t stop arguing.

They were fighting about clothing, particularly a shirt that belongs to Zoe.

“Stop,” I was forced to say, in a not so friendly tone, “We’re eating dinner. If you need to bicker, GO AWAY.”

For some reason, this seemed to work.

“It’s just not nice,” Zoe explained, “Avi keeps going into my room, into my closet, and is taking my clothing.”

I just stared at her.

I couldn’t have ASKED for anything better. Why, you might ask? Because, this has been the exact conversation I’ve been having with HER lately.

I continue to stare at her, which really freaked her out.

It took a moment, but then she got it, and started laughing.

We all started laughing.

“Kind of like I’m doing to you, right?”

“Kind of,” I said.

Recently, I bought a cute shirt and when Zoe asked me if she could borrow it, I said, “No.”

She couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t let her wear it.

“I don’t know,” I explained, “Maybe because I don’t want my new clothing balled up and stuffed into your sports bag.”

“I promise I won’t do that,” She begged.

I’ve learned my lesson with her, the hard way, and I wasn’t backing down.

“NO,” I said again.

I’d like to be able to tell you she respected what I said, but a few days later, she came into the kitchen wearing my shirt. She’d gone into my room, helped herself to my outfit, and actually thought she would get away with it. Obviously, I made her change. Obviously, I felt the need to lecture her on respect. Obviously.

That’s what made our dinner conversation that much more entertaining.

“I get it now,” She said, “This is how you’ve been feeling.”

“YES!” I said, “And it doesn’t feel good, does it?”

I love it when my kids connect the dots.

Find meaning each day,

Dara

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