Dear Coleen

I CAN’T GET ON WITH MY OLDER SISTER

I’m a 15-year-old girl and I don’t get on with my older sister, who’s 17, because she’s moody and angry all the time and never lets me join in on anything. Now we have to spend more time together at home, we’ve argued a lot and I don’t know what to do.

My mum went crazy and told us to both shut up and get along or stay in our rooms – I’ve never seen her so mad.

I don’t know how I’m going to cope with weeks of this having to stay at home – do you have any advice about this?

Coleen says

OK, being cooped up at home for weeks is hard on us all, but it’s essential and I also think it might be a good opportunity for you and your sister to try to reconnect (or at least to agree not to argue) to help your mum out. We’ve all got to try extra hard right now to support each other and to respect each other’s space, too.

Why not be the bigger person and try talking to her – even if it’s to agree to keep out of each other’s way or decide who gets to use the shower first on certain days or when you have living room time?

Come up with a plan that avoids triggering arguments. Maybe you can work together to do some nice things for your mum, like make the family meal one night.

You’re both at a difficult age where your own space is important, so I understand the current circumstances are daunting, but there’s also the opportunity to make positive changes at home.

Rows and rivalry are pretty common among teenage siblings, but you will reach a time where you’ll start having more in common and you will get along better.