Son threatened brother with a knife - am I overreacting?

[MrsMuddlePluck]

Started ft work 8 weeks ago. Father works afh a lot & is currently abroad. 2 of my 3 sons don't get along. Older son has a short temper & is very sensitive. Younger one goads him to distraction.

This evening I came home from work at 5:30 to find out that younger had threatened older with a kitchen knife and a hammer; for eating one of 'his' chicken steaks.

I've decided that I have to ask work to allow me to leave at 3 so I can be at home when younger one comes home from school. Things have been bad between the boys for a while, but definitely worse since I started ft.

Am I right to try to cut my hours or possibly give up work, as I don't want to risk a horrible incident. I worked pt (3 or 4 hours pd) for 2 years so was always home for them before.

[CinderellaFant]

What age are they?

[Ginmakesitallok]

I once chased my db round the kitchen table with a knife. Never managed to get him, he lived to annoy me another day. He was fucking annoying. Love him to bits.

[catkind]

Um, if it was threatened in any serious sense I'd consider calling the police. (I mean not just sitting at the opposite side of the table waving a knife in the air in a jokey way.) That's what would happen if he threatened someone not in his family, no? I fought with my brother all the time but we wouldn't pull knives on each other

I think most kids would appreciate a parent being home after school even if they're too old to admit it. But do you need to be full time for career/money purposes?

[DerelictDaughter]

You can't just let this lie. They're telling you they need you. I hope you all work it out.

[MrsMuddlePluck]

In response to everyone so far: ES18, MS16, YS13.

I don't need to be ft I suppose. Lucky enough to have a DH who has always been able 'to provide', but I'd like to contribute some ££ too.

He (YS13) waved the hammer at him, then used the bread bin lid as a shield & went after ES18 with the knife. When es18 & ms16 left the room, ys13 came in with the meat knife.

I spoke to the older 2 separately to try to find out if it really was as they said & they stuck to the story. Ys13 swears he won't do it again & apologised to es18, but I'm wary of leaving them on their own now.

There's always the chance that es18 will retaliate & I don't like being away from them in case something else does happen.

Es18 & ys13 wind each other up a lot & there's often screaming & door banging when they are together, usually from es18.

[MrsMuddlePluck]

Tbh with 3 boys I was expecting fisticuffs, not hissy fits & knives.

[GraysAnalogy]

I thought you were going to say much younger

[Owllady]

Yes, I think I'd expect them to be wrestling on the floor but this sounds serious. Do you think he'll have learnt the lesson that this isn't normal/acceptable/insert word of choice