Singing Like Canaries

The lesson we are working on this month in this house is getting rid of all the tattling. What is it about kids that, when it comes to 'fessing up on themselves, they clam up like a vault but if it means narcing on their sibling, they will sing like a canary?

Bill Cosby calls these children the "Informers". I've got two of them. And it never fails that once they point out the rule that their sibling is breaking, they are quick to smile angelically and remind me that THEY are currently behaving (stress is on the word CURRENTLY).

Whatever makes them want to throw each other the bus, I've had it up to my eyebrows trying to settle disputes and follow up on everything that starts with a sing-songy "Maaaaaaw-ahm". So the new rule around here is that unless one of them is bleeding, they cannot tell on each other. This had led to lots of harumphing and stomping off when I remind them of the new "no tattling" criteria.

Of course, I'll have to reverse most of this teaching when they are teenagers and I'll need to know if one of them is trying to hide pot in their room or is secretly dating a college boy. Until then, however, you'll hear me like a broken record..."I don't want to hear about your sister...you worry about yourself."