All siblings fight and go through phases where they just cannot seem to get along. I know this is true and remember falling out with my own siblings when we were younger.
My DSs all fight with each other, always have, but were also able to get along sometimes. On the whole they have got on well. Until now!
My middle DS is a bit more hyper than either his older or younger brother. He does have a tendency towards annoying traits (mimicking, talking in a squeaky voice, 'telling mum', generally winding up). This has, over the years. created a situation where it's become a bit 2 against 1. The older 2 boys used to share a common interest in football but have both given this hobby up. DS1 and DS3 share a room which became necessary after breaking up the millionth argument/fight between the youngest and middle DS who used to share. More and more DS2 is pushed further and further out. Neither DS1 nor DS3 would ask middle DS2 to go to the shops with them or play a 2 player game for instance but will happily ask each other if they are bored. The other 2 boys are not best friends by any means but they get on well enough and don't really have a problem with each other.
In his early teenage years DS1 experimented a little with smoking and drinking. He was caught out a few times, punished and now either doesn't do the whole getting drunk thing or hides it extremely well. DS3 is now 13 and wants to be the bad boy that he perceives DS1 to be (DS1 hangs around with the 'cool' kids at school, his teachers have commented that he has the ability to be considered one of the lads by the rougher, naughtier classmates without getting involved in any of the bad behaviour or being ostracised for being a swot) whereas DS2 isn't interested in doing anything like drinking, smoking or chasing girls. He's still happy enough going out on his bike with the same group of friends he went to primary with.
I know DS2 feels left out and he has made comments about his brothers hating him. I try to reassure with tales of me and my sibling falling out when we were younger and now that we have all left home we get on great but obviously that brings little comfort.
I've been racking my brains trying to think of some way to get them to come together a bit. Got a computer game that the oldest DS asked for and middle DS showed an interest so they have been taking it in turns to play it (some thing where you build a house/village and complete tasks to get more building materials) I thought they'd chat about it but they don't at all. If they sit and watch football with DH they will both chat to him about the game or the players but never to each other.
I'm hoping someone has had similar and has an idea of ways to turn this around. Has anyone ever successfully done some kind of 'team building' exercise with their DC?