Kid dispute and parental intervention?
Step mom here.
Kids are 10 and 12. Both boys. At what point do you step in now?
My husband got a tattle (imo) from the eldest about the younger. 12 yo asked 10 yo to play a game. 10 yo said "I cant play a game until I find my phone" (which he'd been looking for for about an hr or so intermittently on his own. His phone, his responsibility. From his BM, I'm not a fan at that young age but whatever) 12 yo then found younger phone and expected him to play a game with him after. 10 yo decided he didnt want to.
12 yo tattled (imo) to hubs about finding youngers phone and him not playing with him. I viewed it as a stupid spat but hubs banned younger from electronics thinking it was manipulative.
I see them both treat each other like crap at times and call them out, but this seemed inconsequential to me.
I'd have just told the younger that he implied and was potentially acting manipulative and asked him to think on it and do better/ apologize for the misunderstanding.
I honestly try to stay out of their stupid spats and whatnot. (Been with the kids for 6 years. Had to calm down eldest the other day when they were playing magnet darts and the 10yo broke a dart while throwing it, not intentional breaking)
What are your thoughts? Give me some context on what you'd do please