In all families there is a certain level of sibling rivalry that's only natural. Two children of the same parents can be completely opposite in behavior and personality. But there are times when sibling rivalry goes deeper. As parents we certainly don't want to entertain the thought that our children genuinely don't like each other. As a mother of three sons and a daughter, I've definitely come to realize the drastic differences in the personalities of my children, especially my sons. The three of them spend more time bickering among themselves rather than getting along.

Beside the usual sibling rivalry though, there are cases of brother actually turning against brother. If we ascribe to the belief of a coming apocalypse we might take that as a sign of the times yet even so, the story of Cain and Abel makes us aware that a deadly rivalry between siblings has existed since the early days of humankind's history.

Thankfully, this type of sibling rivalry is rare although it still occurs even in our own day. I recall a case on the news where a brother had taken the life of his brother over a romantic entanglement. It's just hard to

One thing I've noticed is that people tend to be more tolerant of friends than family. That has always intrigued me, but why? Why do people have less tolerance for their own family members than for others? The most likely explanation is that family members will love you regardless of how you treat them. In most cases, this is true. Although being related to someone doesn't mean a person should allow family members to treat them badly. We often take relatives for granted. Friends may not always remain friends if treated badly. But family is always going to be family, right? People who have this attitude toward those who love them most might want to rethink their philosophy.

Darlene Zagata is a freelance writer and columnist for the print publication Moon Shadows Magazine. She is also the author of "Aftertaste: A Collection of Poems" and "The Choosing." Her work has been published extensively both online and in print. For more information visit her website at http://darlenezagata.tripod.com or contact Darlene at darzagata@yahoo.com

• All About Kids Birthday Cakes


• Why Are the Children of La Manga Happy?


• How To Clean A Mattress


• The Mundane Toilet Brush! – Making the Right Choice


• Fun Pirate Birthday Party Ideas


• Be a Family Historian: How I Became One


• Grandmas Apron – Author Unknown


• Home Weather Stations


• Handling a Hurricane; Part 1 - The Threat of a Hurricane - Are You At Risk?


• Remove Chewing Gum From Carpet - How To


• Back to School: Textbook Savings


• Environmentally-Friendly Earth Homes


• Make Your Family Tree Come Alive


• Bleach – Our Reliance on It is a Mistaken Belief; Part 3


• Kool Aid Stains In Carpet - Removing Them