Two boys, 9 and 11, and they are now always snipping, quibbling and bickering, and I mean CONSTANTLY.
It used to be now and again, then frequently and now it's constant.
If i sit them down together or individually and ask them it's just a resentment filled stream of 'he did..' 'he said''.
They were just outside in the garden playing ball with other children from the estate and all I could hear was DS1 telling DS2 he was wrong all the time, criticizing him with I feel the intent to humiliate him in front of the others.
DS2 was shouting back at him telling him he was stupid and he hated him.
It's breaking my heart, he's (DS1) is wonderfully kind and patient with every single other younger child he comes across. There are times when he's so thoughtful about DS2, he'll go out and buy him something because he's upset or he sees something he knows DS2 likes with his own pocket money, but he just doesn't seem to be about to speak to him civilly.
It's not all coming from DS1, DS2 takes DS1's things and says things he knows will get DS1 into trouble, but it does seem to be mostly coming from DS1
This may or may not be important;
Both boys have struggled in school keeping up with their class, DS1 has now caught up after simply being on the latter end of the learning curve where reading and writing was concerned. But for the couple of years I think he was very conscious he was 'bottom of the class'. DS2 has just been diagnosed with dyslexia and is hugely self conscious about people being better/cleverer. He thinks his brother is smart and talented and feels he is stupid and talent-less (he loves sport but his co-ordination is hampering him somewhat, though he certainly isn't poor at the ones he plays)
I'm at the end of my tether and I would welcome advice