Question:

My 13 year old son gets angry when his 11 year old sister is singing happily in her room or bathroom to herself. He says her singing is aggravating him. What can I say or do to solve this problem? He does take Ritalin for ADD but only at school. However, He does not seem to be bothered easily except by his sister and her singing.

Answer:

Thank you so much for your question. I think it is time to sit down with your son and have a discussion about acceptance in the home. As a parent, I would like to nurture a fun-loving attitude and atmosphere around the home...your daughter sounds like she's simply having a good time. Your son needs to understand that he is going to be growing up in a world that is filled with people doing, saying, talking about, deciding, etc., things he doesn't like. The world cannot change just because he is annoyed. I would suggest you talk to him about alternatives to listening and getting aggravated about the singing. For example, maybe he can go into another room or find something he enjoys doing when she is singing, like listening to his own music on headphones. I would also find out what is it about the singing that gets him so upset? Is he upset that someone else is happy? Would he rather her be sad or mad? I would look into why he is trying to let his behavior control your home and the atmosphere you want to nurture. Frankly, it's time to have a dad to son talk about acceptance!

Many blessings to you as you parent!