By Sarah Chana Radcliffe
"I warned him that if he didn't get out of my chair I'd hit him and he didn't get out..."
If you want your child to refrain from physically attacking siblings, you need to actively TEACH him what he needs to say and do when one of those youngsters BOTHERS him (by teasing him, touching his stuff, looking at him funny or just breathing). Be very clear and specific: what are the exact words you want him to say? What are the exact action steps you want him to take? Have him practice with you in a role-playing session.
Your child or your spouse's behavior is bad and getting worse... Beware the negative cycle - whether it's between you and a child or between you and your spouse. It goes like this: the other person provokes you, you show displeasure, the other person reacts negatively to your displeasure, their negativity provokes you again, you react to them, they react to you ad infinitum. There's only one person who can break the cycle: you. Start being pleasant and positive even though the other person doesn't yet deserve it. They will. Soon.
