My Son Has Chosen His Biggest Competitor. It’s Creating Chaos in Our House.

The Slate’s parenting advice column, Care and Feeding, is known for providing guidance to parents. If you have any questions for Care and Feeding, feel free to submit them here.

One concerned parent shared about their 10-year-old twins, “Allie” and “Brandon.” Brandon appears to be overly competitive, turning everything into a contest and bragging about trivial victories over his sister. The parent is troubled by this behavior and seeks advice on how to address it.

The response advises the parent to have a conversation with Brandon to understand his motivations behind seeking constant validation through competition with his sister. It suggests exploring if there are underlying issues like feeling inferior or seeking attention that are driving Brandon’s behavior. The parent is encouraged to help Allie react calmly to Brandon’s boasting and not give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

In another scenario, a reader seeks advice on dealing with a narcissistic father-in-law and the challenges it poses to their relationship. The column offers insights on coping mechanisms and setting boundaries in such situations.

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