I am an only child and therefore can not possibly understand this sibling rivarly thing. My oldest two spend most of their lives at each others throats.
My 8 year old relys on his older brother to gain and maintain friends and to fill his social life. There are times when the 12 yearold just takes off to free himself from the tag along.
I can see both sides of their debate. I think it is actually healthy for them to have this time apart. I notice a big difference when they reuinite at the end of the day.
I guess out of the 4 they will all have their turn at one time or the other being the odd man out
Besides they are on two different levels at this time in life. My 8 year old is more into wrestling and talking endlessly about how the girls in his school are irritating
While my 12 year old would rather hang out with his friends talking about how girls are so nice looking. He also spends a lot of time grooming and trying to be cool
My 3 year old he would rather watch Nick Jr and bounce off the wall
Once again the baby she fills her days watching the world around her including the front row seat to our live family soap opera.

It's funny how sometimes as parents we set a standard for our children that ourselves as kids could not abide by. I received a phone call this afternoon from my 8 year old. He was in the principal's office and she made him call me directly to tell me what he had done wrong. No this time it was not talking in silent lunch it was throwing food during lunch
As a parent I must set the puishment and let him know how this is not acceptable but a piece of me laughs as I remember those days. In fact sometimes as an adult now wouldn't it feel good to sling a few pieces of food in the work cafateria at that pain in the butt co-worker? Of course this is unacceptable behavior for an adult but it is a nice day dream
No matter what year we are in childhood never changes certain ups and downs
I guess that is what makes it so easy for parents to relate to one another. We not only can relate due to our experiences with our own child rearing but also as we remember being children

I looked at my son a few days ago and was in awe that my baby is no longer a baby he is soon to be a teen. I am so proud of him and how he has evolved into his own person. He is in a sense begun to fly the coop
He is often away from home, over a friends house or at the library. He even has a girl's picture in his wallet
I remember when he was a little guy which seems so long ago I would day dream about the individual he would turn out to be. I am begining to get a glipse of this new creature and I must say it is not that bad yet all thought I am sure once he hits the teens things are going to get a little bumpy but I have my seat belt fastened and I am up for the challenge
The other night he actually came into bed with me while I was watching TV and let me run my fingers through his hair like I did when he was a baby. That meant the world to me and I let him know that too. It seems like sometimes he is caught between two worlds as I can see he wants me to treat him like he is a baby for that comfort but yet he is trying to take a stand for his independence.
I still love to lay in my Mom's arms and have her hold me. It reminds me when I was young and it all comes back to me at that time that I am not just a Mother but I am always going to be my Mother's daughter

I just knew it would be my 8 year old who would be the first to start something when he came home but because I spoke upon it for once it was the 3 year old wanting a balloon that the 8 year old made in school.
I explained that it is not his he can not have it and now he has broke into a song and dance about how 'it's not fair it's not fair' wow I can't wait until he is an adult and he finds out that the world is not fair
He'll find out before then but I won't be able to let him know the mess he put me through while he was discovering that the world is not fair at this age
Hey I think I have died and went to heaven the two oldest are in one room together actually playing nicely it's now 3:04PM lets see how long it will last I bet not even 10 minutes
To up the anty the 3 year old is in there too I thought I heard his voice but could not believe they could all be in one room together without some type of debate going on oh life is good if even for these few minutes.
Signing off for now as the baby is crying for my services

It is now 2:18PM and I am not through with the day and I am so...o done
I feel like my home at times is the United Nations or the Supreme Court. My 3 year old fought with me this morning because I put the sugar in his cherrios before I put the milk in! He should be happy he got the milk
My 5 month old flips when I leave the room. It is on demand now where I can actually count it down like the fourth of July fireworks display for the state
I tried to do 2 loads of laundry one went off without a hitch but the other one trying to be the thrifty person I am...well ok cheap I overstuffed it and that gave me extra work so the woman upstairs could use it so I have a bunch of wet clothes all over. I keep telling myself that I have to go back down stairs and put these things back in the dryer but we'll see.
The sad thing is that I am not fully loaded with children here at the ranch yet
My 12 yearold just walked in the door and I had to just warn him not to touch the baby as she is sleeping soundly in her swing and I do not want to break this peace
Now I have to go get the problem started of the group my 8 year old let the games begin he will be sure to bother one of his brothers or myself within 5 minutes of being in the house thank goodness he does not bother his sister yet