Three Days of Sibling Bliss

You guys.  I have made an amazing parenting discovery!

My kids, like all siblings, fight.  They yell at each other, they boss each other around (one much more so than the other: cough, cough, Abby), they argue and sometimes it's physical.  Don't get me wrong, they love each other and most of the time they are pretty good together.  In fact, I'd say most of the time, provided Abby's attitude is at a level 7 or lower,* they get along pretty well.

However, the last few weeks have been epic.  I don't know if they are still getting used to the busy school and extracurricular activities schedules, or the fact that my daughter is a budding tween and way too cool for the rest of us, or even if Austin has gained some confidence and is starting to push back more, but whatever it is, it has been bad.  They could not get through a meal without screaming at each other (breakfast is the worst).  Forget trying to have them play together on anything other than the computer.**  I'd tried lots of different tactics, but nothing was really working.  Then, I discovered the secret...

Separation.

Last Saturday, Dan took Abby to Harrisonburg for the day to see JMU on Game Day and then watch the game.  They left before Austin woke up and came home late at night, so they went a full 24h without seeing each other.  On Sunday, I was expecting Abby to grumble downstairs her usual non-morning person self.  She'd had a long day, and she's usually worse when she's tired so I was expecting: grumpy, angry, and yelling at people.  Instead, she came downstairs quietly, went into the kitchen (rather than flopping on the couch yelling about where the remote is) and said, "hi, Austin!"  Then she said the same to me and Juliet.  And she was SWEET!  Austin, smiled and said, "hi, Abby!" Next, the most amazing thing happened....they started talking about their Saturday.  Like normal people! There was listening and asking questions, and dare I say interest and respect??

All Sunday, there was no fighting.  They laughed, they played, it was amazing.  On Monday they had the day off from school for a teacher workday, and it was the same thing! When it was quiet time Monday, Abby asked if she could read to Austin in her room.  I, of course, said yes and they were in her room playing and talking for an hour and a half.  AN HOUR AND A HALF!!! Surely, this couldn't continue once school was back, right? But, no! Tuesday was the same as well!

Three days.  I got three whole days of sibling bliss.  I didn't comment on it, I didn't say a word to anyone because I was afraid to jinx it, but it was wonderful.    

I'm afraid all good things must come to an end, and this morning was a giant reality check.  Austin took a rare nap yesterday so he was up late.  Abby stayed up too late reading, woke up tired and took extra time getting ready so we were cramped for time.  Juliet had been up last night (teething?), so I was tired.  There was lots of yelling.  I may have screamed at everyone once or twice as well.  It was...like a normal Wednesday.***

Sigh.  Oh, well.  It was fun while it lasted.

I wonder when I can persuade Dan to take one of them away for a day again?!?




* These days she hoovers around an 8.  Eye rolls, hair flips, tone dripping with sarcasm, the works.  Typical tween, I suppose, but man is it fun! (No. No it is not fun at all.)
** I'll probably go into this deeper in another post, but my kids don't really play or go on computers/ipads.  Abby has an iPad and uses it on occasion when we're at doctor's appointments and such, but that's it.  Austin isn't allowed on it.  So, once a week when I let them go on the computer for a little bit, they are angels.  
***Are Wednesdays bad for everyone? I always attributed cranky Wednesdays to being up late for soccer on Tuesday, but there was no soccer yesterday.  Is it just the struggle of being mid-week?