About half an hour ago I was peacefully in the kitchen putting on the sauce for tonight's lasagna (minced meat needs hours of slow cooking btw to taste right).

Suddenly there were shouts from the living room. Youngest son (15) was shouting 'you want some of this, you want some?' and the wife was shouting 'Aufhoeren SOFORT!' (stop it NOW!).

There was also the unmistakable sound of a clenched fist repeatedly striking another body.

I walked over (first rule of being a dad-never run!) and opened the door to find youngest son (my size) beating the living crap out of eldest son (17, type emo mall goth).

Eldest was already in tears.

I stepped between the two which stopped the 'fight' instantly as neither of them is yet good enough or stupid enough to attempt to go through me.

Sent youngest out to have a fag as he was obviously almost out of it with rage (he was shaking badly).

Seems it was an argument about TV channels and eldest started trying to 'dead leg' youngest.

Anyways the situation is now calm. But i wondering if I shouldn't have done more than just split them up? Eldest has been cruising for a bruising from his younger brother for a long time now but I still don't like the idea of them beating up on each other.

Maybe your eldest has learned his lesson, without allowing things to accelerate even more. After all, you say he was already in tears.

I think you did right.

Sounds like it solves itself.

Teenage males are supposed to fight, especially brothers.

The fact that they were fighting in front of their mother/in the family home is more of a problem/more disrespectful than the actual violence.

Honestly, what's wrong with a fight now and then between siblings?

I think you did enough. Usually sibling fights work themselves out.

quote:Originally posted by Hardly There:

Honestly, what's wrong with a fight now and then between siblings?

This was me, sorry.

Eh I sympathise, jacketch. I get that sort of crap with the guinea pigs alot.

I generally just ignore them, unless they get annoyingly loud, then I spray them with cold water till they get bored.

quote:Originally posted by yoyobek:

I get that sort of crap with the guinea pigs alot.

Lawl, found this funny.

<3

I think you handled the situation well jack. I have two brothers and have had multiple fist fights with both brothers. Once, my parents just let us beat the piss out of each other. I ended up with a broken arm, my brother with a broken collarbone. Looking back on it, I think someone should have stepped in. I think you should let your boys fight as boys do, but step in before anyone gets injured/hurt. I would be most disappointed in the fact that they did this in your home, in front of your wife. Demand they take it outside next time at least.

Peace

Buy them those big inflatable hammers, and when they need to let of some steam, put them in the ring for 5 mins...

Sorted

I don't really see what else you could have done in that situation, Jack.

And isn't your middle son disabled, or is that the youngest one?

quote:Originally posted by Mellow_Fellow:

Buy them those big inflatable hammers, and when they need to let of some steam, put them in the ring for 5 mins...

Sorted

I don't really see what else you could have done in that situation, Jack.

And isn't your middle son disabled, or is that the youngest one?

Middle son (16) is the cripple. Although if he had fought with hid big brother then big brother would probably now be in hospital as crippled son is frighteningly strong. His punches may be slower than a British Rail train but god help you if they land.