Why Would A Mother Tell Child A...That Child B Is Jealous Of Him...?

Question

And tell Child B that Child A is jealous of him?

Unbeknown to the other child...

Answer 1

I've really pondered this & not answered, perhaps because I wanted to be sure that personal experience wouldn't in any way influence me. It won't.
There is absolutely no way that I can see anything constructive, informative or reinforcing to either child in doing such a thing. On the contrary, I see it as harmful. Whatever the children's relationship, this kind of clandestine interference is unhealthy, & immature.
If the children are upset with each other, telling them they are jealous of each other isn't going to make them feel "better." If there's a serious problem, it would be far better to get at the root of of it by talking with them in a non-judgmental way, asking "innocent" questions & not adding more fuel to the fire. To secretly tell them each is jealous of the other is extremely divisive.
The ability of children to work out their own problems is often grossly underestimated.

Answer 2

There are definite circumstances when this is valuable. If the child understands jealousy, and the bad feelings it causes, then letting them know that a specific action or possession causes the other child to be jealous of them can cause them to stop performing that action or share that possession. Children usually have to be guided towards that decision, in my experience.

Alternatively if child B is acting in a mean and unpleasant manner, then letting child A know that (s)he is just doing so out of jealousy gives child A an avenue for forgiveness. Again, guidance is usually necessary, but worthwhile in that it gives the kid productive tools for working with that in the future.

Why do this in both directions? The grass is always greener, and letting kids see that the other kid thinks that the grass is greener on his/her side can provide a little perspective.

On the other hand, if the parent is lying to the kids for some purpose, chances are that only bad will come of it.

Answer 3

I don't know why people are like this. It makes me sick to hear of jealously within a family. She should bite her tounge and go on with it and tell her one kid that there is nothing the other child should be jealous about. You may think that things like this does not bother a kid but it does.

Answer 4

Maybe both of the children *are* jealous of the other & the mother is just trying to get the kids to try to see the relationship from the other's point of view.

Answer 5

obviosly the children are upset with each other or the mum feels there is tension in the air or is trying to let each child feel better about themselves by saying that the other sibling is jealous...
i dont know, i can only assume!!!!