The adopted brothers are currently three and five. The same family adopted them each at birth and they share the same birthparents so they are brothers by birth and by adoption. The boys have always been on the active side. Their parents rarely take both of the boys anywhere together unless both parents are going so each can keep an eye on one boy. Some older birth siblings have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD.) Since the boys really enjoy rough housing their dad and adult brothers have been teaching them wrestling moves. Their now... more

A friend called me yesterday nearly hysterical. When she dropped the girls off at school she overheard the 11 year old telling the nine year old not to worry, that she would kill her when she got home. When my friend got back home, she decided to search the bedroom of the 11 year old. That is when my friend really got upset. You see, she found a note, written by the 11 year old, to her therapist apologizing for killing her little sister.

My friend had already been in touch with her daughter’s therapist, explained the note, and faxed a copy to her. The therapist had agreed... more

If you are part of a large family, one thing is for sure, you can’t get away with sneaking, lying, stealing, or anything else. Whatever a child in a large family does, there always seems to be brothers or sisters nearby to witness the act. I frequently wonder why some of my children continue to try after 100 attempts or more have been busted. One child in our home sometimes commits acts right in the plain sight of her brothers and sisters. Does she think that this time they might not tell, even though they have been tattling on her for years?

When our first... more

Why does sibling bonding time among brothers seem to usually involve wrestling on the furniture, the floor, or the ground. Inevitably, one ends up teary and in need of an ice pack. Something of mine usually gets broken or clothing is ripped and I get to sew it or replace it. One ends up tattling on the other, probably because he didn’t win. Just when you think all is quiet, the boys are at it again.

The next day they are perfectly happy to go ride bikes together, play video games, or go fishing together as if they never fought. They don’t seem to hold a grudge against... more

Two of our children are 10 months apart in age, so for a little over two months every year brother and sister are the same age. It so happens that their first names are very similar as well. Not a planned thing, actually one was adopted at the age of six. The both have blue eyes and they are both quite thin. As you might imagine, this occasionally leads people who are not very familiar with our family and don’t know that one is adopted to assume that brother and sister are twins.

This assumption absolutely drives Lane... more

Competition is a part of life. It is in the work place, in school, in sports, and even in our extra curricular activities. If you happened to have been raised with at least one sibling, then you started your competition training early, and right at home.

Currently we have eight children at home so competition is alive and well at our house. We also have three adult children who have moved out on their own. Should I say four? (Actually, I need some advice on this one. When people ask how many children we have should we... more

Before you had a second child, did you have visions of your children happily playing together with nary a squabble, only to discover that they fight more often than they get along peacefully?

Do the words "It's mine!" or "No, you can't play with us!" echo through the halls of your home more often than "Sure, I'd be happy to share this with you"?

Are your children like Janene Wolsey Baadsgard's children -author of The Roller... more