Its Just Talk

So my boys have a big issue when it comes to getting along.  They usually get along well, and nothing about their relationship is out of the ordinary for their gender and age difference.  Sometimes they don't like to share.  Sometimes they want to be alone when the other wants company.  Sometimes they both just get really bored.

But G frequently cannot deal with the things J says.  I mean, J is three and full of himself.  J will be talking about a box of crackers we just bought for the family and he'll say that the box is his.  G loses it completely- hitting, kicking, and screaming.  We all know that the box of crackers is for the whole family.  J is just talking to hear himself, and he also knows he can get a rise out of G.  Ownership is a big part of this- J will say one of a toy is his.  Or food.  Or a plant out in the yard.  Of a gift under the Christmas tree.  Or a car driving down the road.  I know who the stuff belongs to.  Daddy knows who the stuff belongs to.  G and J both know who it belongs to.  G cannot just let it go.

I've tried telling G to ignore it, using reason and a soothing tone of voice.  I've tried separating them when J seems to be having too much fun picking at G.  I've tried ignoring them both and seeing who wins the fight (until the hitting/kicking/choking starts), especially since its a pretty dumb fight to have.  So far, nothing has worked.  G can't let it go, and J has too much fun getting his big brother worked up.

Maybe, ten years from now, they'll be fighting over different things, and I'll look back longingly at this stage.  Or maybe they'll be having the exact same fight because G still gets worked up and J still thinks its funny.  By then I might just have gone completely crazy.