If you have more than one child, you’re familiar with the “unofficial full-time job” of being a sibling referee. The bickering, the fighting, the endless “That’s mine!” is a constant soundtrack in the background of your life. But despite the constant battles, siblings also provide lifelong companionship, support, and let’s be honest a ton of entertainment.
The Constant Need for Mediation
Being a parent to multiple kids means becoming a full-time mediator. You’ll spend more time breaking up arguments than enjoying a quiet moment. “She touched my stuff!” “He’s looking at me!” “I’m telling!” The list of grievances is endless, and the solutions are never as simple as they seem.
There are only so many times you can say, “Can you two just get along?” before you throw up your hands in frustration. It’s a thankless job, but someone has to do it. And let’s be honest, you’re probably not getting paid for more than a couple of hugs and the occasional “I love you, Mom.”
The Teamwork That’s Hard to Believe
Despite the constant arguing, there are moments when your kids surprise you. They team up to play a game, help each other with homework, or even share a snack without being asked. These fleeting moments make all the bickering worth it.
When siblings work together, they can accomplish amazing things. Just don’t expect this to happen often. The secret to sibling cooperation is simple: distractions. Get them focused on something they both enjoy and watch them forget their differences until, of course, the next fight erupts over who gets the best seat in the house.
The Unlikely Bonds
Sometimes, it takes years of sibling rivalry to form the bond that makes it all worthwhile. As your kids grow older, they’ll begin to understand each other in ways you never thought possible. They’ll start to stand up for each other and, shockingly, even defend each other. The sight of your kids becoming friends is something every parent hopes for.
But, of course, you can’t force it. It takes time and plenty of bickering before they realize that they’ve got each other’s backs. And when that day comes, it’s like a reward for all the years you’ve spent as a referee.
The Referee
Being the sibling referee in a large family is a job you never signed up for, but one you’ll learn to master. It requires patience, persistence, and the ability to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Siblings may argue, fight, and steal each other’s things, but they’re also creating memories that will last a lifetime. So embrace the chaos, and remember sibling rivalry is just part of the job description.
Farah Zeb is a mother of five, including two children with special needs. She shares practical parenting tips and resources to help other families navigate daily challenges and create supportive, nurturing environments.
