If you have a brother or sister then you know how important it is to give a better cut-down than you receive.

My kids are 12 and 5. Recently I found out about a couple of doozies.

Lily came home this week telling us that her friend made her "pinky promise' not to tell anyone a big secret. The secret was that "Mrs. Hazell (at school) used to be named Mrs. Hazellbutt.''

Thus Creed told her she believes everything; she's gullible.

"I don't believe everything,'' she told me on our way to school. "I don't believe what Creed tells me, like when he says, "Mom doesn't love you. She wants you to run away to another family and live there.' "

Ahhh, those fun sibling fights. I grew up as one of four girls, so I know all about this subject.

She also asked me last week, "Mommy, am I normal?'' Yes, I told her. "Oh,'' she responded, " 'cuz Creed said I"m not.''

Lily is a very sensitive person, and doesn't go on the attack much. Plus she's only in kindergarten. So I was pretty impressed when I heard what she came up with in a recent squabble while Creed was babysitting her.

"God hates you!'' she screamed at Creed. Creed was appalled, and told me about it later.

She had a basis for this -- she said he was being mean to her, and that God "hates' mean people. Well her theology might be a little askew but I had to give her points for the large scope and depth of this cut-down.

I'm not inclined to stomp on their freedom of expression, as long as it doesn't include profanity or any slandering of their mother. People need to be able to defend themselves in this world, and don't you think that sibling rivalries are fertile training ground?

I don't allow physical abuse. But I think being verbally pummelled by a brother or sister, and learning how to shrug that off, can only prepare you for life in America.