REALLY Annoying Little Brother

[brennaluvv]

Hi, I'm Brenna. I'm 13 and I have an 8 year old (adopted) little brother. He annoys me really, really badly. I've gotten comments from teachers and other adults about him such as, "How do you deal with him at home everyday?" My parents tell me to just ignore him, but it's impossible, he makes me so mad sometimes that I feel like just jumping out of the car or something. I'm not sure why I get so mad at him for stupid things like chewing with his mouth open, but I do. How can I get over this, or solve the problem and have him as a friend?

[Rutherford The Brave]

You kind of have to ignore him. Its not really a choice most young people. AHEM MY STEP SISTER. Do things just to get a kick out of people. If you fall for it they get joy and you get mad.

[Trickster]

I have one too. When you have a little brother, their presence, their breathing, the way they walk and talk and exist! it becomes so annoying. See this may make ya because their gonna leave that impression on you, the annoying little snot that they are. Its REALLY going to be hard, trust me. What you need to do really is find ways of avoiding him all together, like staying after school, or going to a different room.
My advice is to learn the Shut-Down. Basically you become just a blank. Itll become boring for them alot, and theyll leave. If they start to touch, then you can retaliate but if they talk just sit back and ignore.
SIgh...i can feel your pain it hurts but eventually theyll get older and become less annoying just try to endure.

[ktmay96]

Wow. I know exactly what you mean. My little sister just turned 9 and sometimes i just want to duct tape her mouth shut and put her in a closet for an hour so i can get some peace!! I love her to death, but every little thing she does irritates me to no end!! I've also tried to ignore her (according to my parents oh so great advice. i love how thats their like line "just ignore them" oh right! ha thats funny!) unfortunately, i really dont think theres really any way to get over it or solve it until they grow older. some sisters/brothers are better than others at that age, and some of us are stuck with the ones that annoy the hell out of us. just remind yourself you love him and he just does it cuz he's your brother and thats really all you can do.

[Resistance]

well i have a older brother and he annoys me too. at first i thought that was just us, but than i realize almost every brother have this discussions.
ignore him like i do!

[Brighter.Tomorrow]

Kids are smarter then you'd expect, when he's calm, just set him down for a talk and explain how you feel, just make it he understands it's your feelings, and not him.
Certain times, you really do have to ignore little kids, which can be hard, but try harder, I guess. lol
I deal with little kids all the time, when they're doing something they should, like chewing with their mouth open, it's often just to get your reaction, so just calmly ask for him to close his mouth.

[Nicky97]

There are some of us out here that wish we had a younger sibling to look up to us. Someone to take some of the family focus off of us. Someone who could become a trusted friend for the next 70 years. And a situation where our efforts would have an impact on their lives. Maybe it wouldn't be as "peaceful", but life at home would be more interesting. Are you sure its all HIS fault?

[Mourfus]

Happens to me 2 he loves to get me mad and I get punished if I. Do any thing back he's a total a#% but I am mostly ignoring him now

[Nevfx]

It might not be much help, but all you can is ignore him. Its up to your parents to discipline and help make his behaviour change. All you can is support them in that.

[josh93]

my older brother makes me mad and annoys me but i just ignor him becaues sometimes i know i do the samething but for your brother i would probaly ignor him.

[Jess]

just ignore him. he's only 8, he might not do it as he get older

[BUENA]

He may have a learning/mental disorder. For example my borther has ADD or ADHD I can't remeber because I have not lived in the same house for over a year. you have to be a friend rather than try to help him have a healthy mind. But it doesn't you that you should stop believing in him to do well in life or in academics. To sum it all up look into your heart.

[Ryhanna]

I can totally relate to this, my younger sister is very similar. I kind of think that younger siblings do it to their older one's to assert themselves. Because the older sibling is typically the sibling with the most responsibility and life experience, younger kids feel do this to make themselves feel "big."

I find it's best to just ignore it. Calm yourself, count to ten and imagine he's not there. Retaliating will only make it worse, so don't do that.

[the8bitter]

I can sort of relate to what you're going through. I have a little cousin (about 8 years old) that is rather annoying, and strangers always think I'm his older brother. He behaves himself for the most part, but he's really loud and is always demanding attention (which is sad...I never got much attention when I was his age and hardly asked for it) from me. Thankfully, we share in common a love for Nintendo. He's content just to watch me play, and used to idolize me (which was kind of cute XD). One time I was marathon-ing Super Mario Galaxy 2 and we both made popcorn and juice.

So, in other words, just find something in common with him. One way to make him bugger off is to lock yourself in your room...that's what I do when there are little kids running around in the house and that usually fixes it for me.

[Christiaan]

A couple of things lass. I'm glad to hear ya say at the end that it's little things he does. Secondly, when you had to mention that he's adopted, that means you haven't really accepted him as really yer bro. The definition of adopt is to take or make someone or something as yer own. If he was adopted into yer family then he is yer real brother.

Since ya mention he was adopted, what yer describing tells me what he wants is not to annoy you, but to have yer attention. Wee children, whether they were given up for adoption at birth or later, don't really understand the process like ya see it from yer side, taking someone into yer home and sharing yer home and life with him or her.

The question in their mind is why didn't they want me? Why wasn't I good enough, surely no one would give me away? That's the dragon that he's always looking over his shoulder at. In his secret places, he's very sad, seriously wrecked, and yous, his new family are his saviours. However, it may take a long time for him to get over being wrecked. To a child, their Mam and Da are their world, their security and safety and his was utterly destroyed.

I take it that the ones making comments are yer friends. Pay them no mind, if they can't say something positive or constructive, their comments aren't worth listening to.

Try this as a start, now that ya understand his dragons not just how he annoys ya. When it's happening calmly say to him, (using his name) you don't have to do that to get my attention, just say my name and tell me what you want.

Now you've taken the monkey (annoyance) off yer shoulders and put it on his. He's gonna be startled cos he's not expecting that reaction, but he will hear it. It's possible ya may have to repeat it a few times to him, but it will work. Just be sure when he says yer name, that ya stop and ask what can I do for ya? The first time he'll look astonished and ya can say to him, see, that's all ya have to do.

Keep in mind that this lad was lost and now yer his saviour, what a marvelous gift and opportunity ya have.