I have a 13 yr old son and a 7 yr old. They fight, they get along, and fight again. All in an hour. My oldest will stick up for his brother all the time if he sees him needing his help. He told me no one has the right to hurt his brother but him. That is as close to a I love my brother as I get. But it was really sweet of your son sticking by his sister. You couldn't ask for him to do any better. By the way, I am the youngest of three girls. We fought all the time as kids, but out grew it and are now close.
My boys are the same age as your two kids jaderock and although they fight a lot most of the time they're best friends. I'm so lucky in that I know if they go somewhere together my nine year old takes good care of his little brother. I've seen him, he will literally grab him by the shoulders and make sure he goes to the right place, does the right things, etc. It takes a load off actually. It's for that reason I wish they could go to the same school! That said, separate schools has been good for the little one, as he has had to fend for himself.i really took heed to what you said about getting involved in their issues, i find myself always trying to settle everything. my kids are two twelve year old boys(w/adhd) an 11 year old boy and a 4 year old girl. i find my self always fussing. i will try it your way and see if this won't help. thanks a bunch!
congrats to you! Isn't it the best feeling when they do something nice for each other. My 5 year old went to YMCA camp last week. She was bored with her age group. They moved her up an age group and she did so much better.
This week my son (9, adhd) and daughter (6) have been going to the local ymca day camp. My daughter is a little clingy (I joke that she doesn't realize the umbilical cord was cut 6 yrs. ago) and apparently she's cried every afternoon for me.
My son, without being asked to, has taken care of her and stayed with her until she calmed down and then helped her find a friend to play with! Words cannot even express how proud I am. I know he would much rather be playing with his friends.
It just made me realize that we must be doing something right, despite feeling the opposite many days. I'm happy because I always envied my friends who came from large families where the siblings played together and looked out for one another; my sibs and I never got along very well. I had wondered if it was possible for my kids to have that kind of relationship because everyone I knew who was close to their siblings came from families with 5-8 kids. I'm leaning toward the theory that when you have that many kids there is no time to get involved in the sibling rivalry issues and that makes for kids who get along better. I've always been a firm beleiver in letting them work it- I only get involved if it gets physical.