Relationships between siblings can vary from harmonious, full of love and understanding to disparate, soaked with hatred and cruelty. This depends on many factors and is most often caused by family relationships from childhood.
What affects the relationship between children in the family?
Siblings have a special bond with each other because they spend a lot of time together during their childhood years. During this period, their relationships are complex and contradictory and can take shape for the rest of their lives.
What affects the understanding between blood siblings?
First, the microclimate in the family. If there is a calm atmosphere at home, parents love, respect each other, and treat their children with special tenderness; then, in the future, it is likely that brothers and sisters will maintain good relations with each other. This is not to say that they will have no conflicts in childhood and in a future life, but a positive example of parents and competent education will help them to build the right model of behavior.
Secondly, the parents’ attitude towards each child is also important. Mom and dad often scold the older child more often for bad behavior, explaining it by the fact that he should be wiser, smarter, and set an example to the younger child. This gives rise to jealousy for a single sibling who, because of age, is pitied and protected.
Thirdly, the age difference between children plays a role. Typically, when it is small, conflicts occur more often, if the difference is impressive, then the older brother or sister become authority, and quarrels occur less often.
Is it possible to avoid conflicts and how to resolve them?
Specialists argue that quarrels between siblings do not always have a negative impact on their relationship. In some cases, conflict is necessary to spill their emotions, to defuse the situation, and to learn to interact with each other. However, it is important that parents teach their children to overcome quarrels with dignity while listening to mutual accusations and avoiding physical abuse.
The root of a conflict may grow within an older child when the younger one appears in the family. Some people have admitted that since the birth of their brother or sister they have been hated because of competition. Parents’ attention has decreased drastically and this was seen by the eldest as a betrayal. To avoid this, it is recommended to prepare the older child in advance, and make sure he is psychologically ready for the birth of the baby, talk to him, talk about how good and fun they will be together. Once the newborn is here, try not to switch all your attention to him. Keep some for the older child as well. It is also necessary to surround the elder with care. You can unobtrusively ask him to show care for the youngest child, emphasizing his status as an assistant and an indispensable person. In this case, the older child will feel his importance and pride, and in the future, he will remain willing to take care of his younger siblings with sincerity and love.
Most often children’s conflicts end in adulthood. Relatives begin to understand each other better, realize that they are one family, and need to stick together. However, quarrels can also continue at a mature age. During this period, brothers and sisters are able to solve the conflict on their own if they want to, with wisdom and patience. Every relationship is a job, and every member of the family needs to work on it. As we age, brothers and sisters must value their relationship and support each other. This will help them become more cohesive after their parents leave and build harmonious relationships in their own families.
