As the mother of four, Marian Edelman Borden has had plenty of experience with her subject -- and somehow survived it. Her humor and clearheadedness shine through in her writing, and her sage, down-to-earth advice is -- well -- priceless.
If you're a parent, this book is a MUST. It wouldn't hurt siblings of any age to read it, too.
For example - if your kids (like mine) are close in age, and the same sex, it's important to teach them to "fight fair." It's also important not to get overly involved with the details of their arguments, and not to become hostile yourself (which is understandable... if it's 6 PM and you haven't started dinner yet!) Borden says kids whose parents are overly critical and argumentative will imitate their behavior, rather than try to do better.
I came away from this book with new ideas and tips, as well as a personal pat on the back for things I've been doing well all along. I also loved the little sidebars written in the margins, which were a refreshing mix of old and new information.
Quick answers to parent's most baffling moments
The Baffled Parent's Guide to Sibling Rivalry provides parents with quick, sound advice on how to keep relative peace in the family. Organized for easy-access by topics that provoke the most arguments among siblings-such as room sharing and borrowing toys, as well as issues related to step and half siblings-these quick and effective solutions help parents sort through how and when to intervene.