Fighting again!

My kids yesterday were "play fighting". First it started as a fake fight - you know like wrestlers do where they pretend to slap someone but really don't. Then it got to "we can hit each other a little bit" according to the older one and the little one said "okay, but no kicking." They even made up fighting names - Noogie and Wedgie. I see a future in the MMA.

Tag Team

My kids act like they want to rip each other's hair out most of the time. But, there is one instance when they are the closest, happiest, most loving sisters ever - when they are teaming up on me! It usually starts with the older one. She gets sassy or does something she knows is wrong and then convinces the little one to join in. There's usually some type of conference - a whisper, a knowing look, a nudge - and then they attack. The two-on-one method seems to work for these girls and it makes them giddy with power. They love to hide in a bedroom and have one come out, do something silly, and then run back to report her victory to her teammate. I hate to stop them, because this is when they are acting like real sisters. But, more often than not, it ends up bad. There's a fight. Someone gets in trouble. It gets out of hand. They need to learn when their time in the ring is up!

Blame game

My daughter is standing in the middle of a room. No one is near her. She stubs her toe. Immediately, she screams and cries "thanks a lot" to her sister for making her stub said toe. HUH? It's her sister's fault? Yes, apparently, that is true. This is what happens now that my kids are old enough to realize they can blame their mistakes on someone else. If I talk, that alters the balance in the universe and makes my daughter make a mistake on her homework assignment. If I look at her while she's brushing her hair, it comes out all wrong and she looks hideous (her word). How can it possibly be your sister's fault that you smacked her? And, the older one will say "she hit me first." Um, no she didn't. I was standing right here the entire time and she didn't touch you. "Yes, she did," the older one screams. "Why don't you believe me?!!" I'm sure it's just a phase. I'm sure it's a waste of time to expect my child to be rational and to understand lying and blaming are wrong. The phase better end soon!