SC fighting- is this normal?

[Banhaha]

My oldest SC slapped the youngest one during an argument. OH told them to apologise and told me it was what kids do. Is it? I feel powerless to do anything about it. If I slapped OH I'd be accused of assault! I think we should tell their mum what happened in case it's a pattern. Am I over reacting? I do feel quite protective of the little one as she's often picked on.

What age are the kids? It's not uncommon for siblings to get physical with each other- especially if they are young.

Siblings do fight sometimes. They do need to be told not to but it happens.

11 nearly 12 and 14.

Thanks for the reassurance. It's hard without much experience to know if it's normal or not!

My ds broke his sisters arm fighting. He is 10 and she is 11. While I would hope that isn't normal there is now a zero tolerance to anything physical between them. A broken bone is definitely a line crossed.

Yes. It's unfortunately normal. Sibling rivalry is a massive thing. 😔

I'd not be impressed by a 14 year old who slapped a younger sibling but it still isn't the same as assault by an adult. I'd be having a clear conversation about expectations and consequences.

No physical violence should go unchecked. They should have grown out of it by now.

My DSC battered each other constantly from age 4-16. Drive me fucking nuts. Especially as my own dc had never laid a finger on each other. So I had no experience to fall back on.

I left it to DH to sort !

I don't think at 14 it's normal at all, so I wouldn't stand for it in my house. Shocking behaviour.

By 14 I'd expect them to be growing out of it

I don’t think it is normal. My children never physically fight its completely unacceptable in our house for anyone to raise their hand to anyone else.