Sib Tip #1
BE NICE. Seriously! Your sib is human, even though it doesn't always seem that way. You wouldn't tell your BFF6 that her taste in clothing stinks7, or that new boy in your class that he's dumber than a doorknob8. Show the same respect for your sib. Throw him (or her) a genuine9 compliment every now and then. He (or she) might just return the favor.
Sib Tip #2
CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES. Not every issue is worth a knock-down10, drag-out11 fight. Your sister broke your CD player, but it was an accident. Your brother really did forget that it was his turn to feed the dog. Before you start something12, ask yourself if it's really worth a fight. Even if you're the younger sib, you can be the bigger person and just let it go. There will be plenty of issues that are worth fighting over, so why not cut your sib some slack on13 the ones that aren't?
Sib Tip #3
SEE THINGS THROUGH YOUR SIB'S EYES. Maybe you feel like your little brother gets more attention, or that your older sister gets all the privileges14. Have you ever asked how they feel? Perhaps your sister thinks she gets stuck with15 all the responsibilities, and your little brother wishes he were as smart as you. Learning how your sib feels may help you understand why he or she feels like picking a fight—and what you can do to avoid it.
Sib Tip #4
PROBLEM-SOLVE TOGETHER. Did you ever stop to think about how much you and your sib could accomplish if you put all that fighting energy into problem-solving instead? Sometime when you're not angry, ask your sib to help you come up with ideas for settling the issues you argue about most. Maybe you can draw up a schedule for sharing the remote control or agree on rules for entering each other's rooms. Talking it through today can prevent a battle tomorrow.
Sib Tip #5
COOL OFF, DON'T FREAK OUT16. Sometimes sibs can make you so angry you just can't deal with them at that moment. If a situation is threatening to become all-out17 war, walk away. Give yourself time to calm down before you try to discuss the situation again. By removing yourself before you make matters worse, you'll come out ahead18 in the long run.
Sib Tip #6
ALERT YOUR PARENTS. Parents do want their kids to get along, but they sometimes encourage sibling rivalry19 without even realizing what they're doing. If your mom or dad is always comparing you to your sib, it may help to point out how this makes you feel: “Always hearing how much smarter, neater, or nicer my sister is makes me feel like I'm not good enough.” If your parents can't break the “why - aren't - you - more -like - your - sib ?” habit, at least remind yourself that you're an individual, not your brother or sister. They have their strengths—and so do you.
Sib Tip #7
APOLOGIZE. No one likes having to admit they were wrong, but when things go badly, an apology can go a long way to20 getting a relationship back on track21. You don't have to take all the blame, but if you said or did something you wish you could take back, it'll help a lot.
So there you have it: Seven easy ways to win the peace...right? OK,OK, so tossing a genuine compliment to someone you normally call “Pig-brain” may be the toughest assignment you've had all week. And apologizing? That's tough, too. But think about it: Your sib may be a part of your life longer than anyone else you know. Besides earning yourself a little more peace and quiet in the here-and-now22, you're inverting23 a friendship that could last your entire life. Isn't that worth a little effort?
小贴士1：
和为贵。认真点！你的兄弟姐妹也是有人情味的，尽管看上去并不总是这样。你一定不会对自己的闺中密友说她着装打扮品位好差，也不会告诉班上新来的男孩他笨得像榆木疙瘩。所以也要对你的兄弟姐妹尊重些，时不时真诚地赞美他（她）。投之以桃，他（她）很可能报之以李。
小贴士2：
分清主次。并不是所有问题都值得大打出手，持久对抗。你妹妹摔坏了你的CD机，但这只是她不小心而已。你哥哥确实忘记该他喂狗，又不是故意。在你准备生事前，先问问自己是否值得这样做。即使你是家里的老幺，也可以做到胸襟开阔，宽宏大度。还有很多值得一斗到底的大事，那为啥还要在这些鸡毛蒜皮的小事上斤斤计较呢？
小贴士3：
将心比心。或许你认为弟弟得到了父母更多的关爱，或者姐姐得到了所有特权。你问过他们的感受了么？或许你姐姐认为她要承担起所有责任，或许你弟弟希望和你一样聪明伶俐。设身处地为他们着想，你就更容易明白为什么他们想吵架——你也就知道怎样才能避免这种冲突。
小贴士4：
协商解难。你是否扪心自问过：若是把吵架的精力都投入到解决问题中去，你们的关系会不会突飞猛进呢？当你心平气和时，和你的兄弟姐妹一起想想法子，解决那些你们争执最厉害的难题。或许可以就怎样分享遥控器排出时间表，或许可以就进入彼此房间的规则达成共识。现在谈好，以后就不会争执不下。
小贴士5：
平心静气，别大发雷霆。有时你的同胞使你大为恼火，你实在不知该怎么办。若是当时的情形愈演愈烈，有升级为全面战争的趋势，你应该趁早离开，给自己充足的时间冷静下来，然后再去讨论解决问题。在事态恶化之前走开，从长远看来，对你是大有裨益的。
小贴士6：
警示父母。父母确实希望子女们能和睦相处，但是他们有时候无意中鼓励了孩子们之间相互对抗与竞争。如果你的父母总是把你们比来比去，那么把你的感受讲出来或许有所帮助：“总是听到你们说姐姐（妹妹）脑子比我灵，穿戴比我整洁，人比我要听话，这让我觉得自己一无是处。”如果你的父母改不了老说“你就不能向兄弟（姐妹）学学吗”，那么你至少要提醒自己：你就是你自己，不是你的兄弟、姐妹。他们有他们的长处——你也有你的优点。
小贴士7：
主动示歉。没人愿意承认自己犯了错，但是当事情有些不对头时，一个道歉却能力挽狂澜使感情重归正轨。你不必承担所有的错误，但是如果你说点什么或做点什么表示歉意，就能化干戈为玉帛。何乐而不为呢？
看看吧，现在你有7条和平共处的方案了。的确，说来容易做来难。夸奖一下平时你叫惯了“猪头”的那个人可能是你一周里最难的任务了。道个歉呢？也不容易。但是考虑考虑：你的兄弟姐妹是你生命的一部分，这部分时间可能比你认识的任何其他人都要长。如果能做到上面几点，除了眼下能为你赢得更多和平安宁之外，你还创造了一段可能持续一生的友谊。难道这不值得你付出一点努力么？
1. sibs=siblings n. 兄弟姐妹
2. remote control 遥控器
3. slug v. 猛击
4. sit on sb. 制止某人的不良行为
5. call one's names 嘲弄或侮辱某人
6. BFF=best female friend 闺中密友
7. stink [sti?耷k] v. 低劣
8. doorknob n. 门把手
9. genuine adj. 真诚的
10. knock-down 打倒，击倒
11. drag-out 拖延
12. start something 制造麻烦
13. cut sb. some slack on sth. 对某人表示理解；宽待某人。
14. privilege n. 特权
15. get stuck with 无法摆脱
16. freak out 失去自控
17. all-out adj. 全部的
18. come out ahead 占上风
19. rivalry n. 竞争，对抗
20. go a long way to (doing) sth. 在促成某事上大有帮助
21. get sth. back on track 使某事重归正轨
22. here-and-now 此时此地
23. invert v. 转化