Don't Jake, Don't

Bentley is seventeen months older than Jake. That doesn't sound like much, but when you are four (and five sixths) years old, that's almost a third of your lifetime. Bentley has a huge head start on Jake. So when Jake takes Bentley on, he almost always loses. Many times a day Kara and I say to Jake "What did you think would happen when you chased/hit/spit on your older brother?"

Jake and Bentley get along 95% of the time, but the other 5% (which equates to an hour a day) is difficult for everyone. When Jake gets upset at Bentley's teasing, he lashes out. Sometimes Bentley gets hurt. (It doesn't stop him from doing it again.) We adults get headaches from dealing or not dealing with the two boys.

Here is a typical situation. This morning Jake went to the table to make himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He put the needed supplies at the end of the table nearest the kitchen, so he sat in the most convenient chair which just happened to be Bentley's chair. Bentley came into the room and demanded that Jake move. Jake said no.

Bentley countered with "Fine. I'll sit in your chair and get crumbs all over it." That really set Jake off. He was livid. He demanded that we not let Bentley do that. (I don't think Bentley was even eating a food that crumbled.) We had to send Jake to time out because he was so loud and obnoxious about the matter.

Last night at bedtime the boys were arguing about something ridiculous (but important to them!) and Bentley was winning the argument, so Jake climbed up on the railing of the bunk bed and spit on Bentley. Bentley slapped him. Really Jake, what did you think was going to happen?

Just don't Jake. Don't do it. That's our advice. You're younger. You're smaller. You're slower. Do not engage your older brother. Do not respond when he teases you. IGNORE HIM!