A Parents' Guide to the Roots of Sibling Rivalry

One of the greatest sources of stress for families with closely spaced children is also one of society's best-kept secrets. Harsh feelings and aggressive actions among brothers and sisters born a few years apart routinely torment their parents, but the topic is rarely talked about openly. As a result, while thousands of mothers and fathers suffer from the scourge of severe sibling rivalry, each one tends to do so in isolation – and sometimes even in shame.


Part of the problem may be found in...