Sunday, January 19, 2020

(1200) Sibling rivalry

Comparing eating habits, the 13-year old boy was a joy to feed. Dad took his two children and carer-tutors to eat a hefty breakfast. Lunch is at 12:30 pm. Tea is at three. No matter what I served, he took normal portions.

His sister, however, is different! Every half an hour she runs to the fridge. Even after eating an adult portion of duck noodle at 7:30am, by eight she munches on a few grapes. At  ten out comes the orange to be pealed. Even when all fruits are eaten, she would dip her fingers into milo powder for licking. Of course it did not help that the sweet girl gets chocolates, pastries, donuts from neighbours and dad regularly.

Since she refused to co-operate in learning the national language, we located a few work books teaching cursive writing. As her brother was diligently reading and writing essays in the national language, she habitually runs in to disturb him.

Siblings fight. These two are rough. As they wrestle, run around the apartment, sits on each other by turns, my policy is non-interference as long as there is no broken bone or bleeding. They punched and kicked, yelled in pain and each heads for time out in different rooms. Since there is a 4 year age gap, the girl is obviously at a disadvantage physically.

Only once I was concerned enough to examine her back, noted a bruise and rubbed it with ointment I found. I really cannot understand why she kept going back for more punches and physical confrontations. It is as if she hardly suffers pain like any ordinary mortal girl.

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