Boys fighting-what's normal??

[Lady-bug]

I need to know how normal this is....how much do your kids fight? Its getting to the point in our house where we have blood usually everyday How can two boys fight so much about so many things.
I'm struggling as it is the little one (22 months) who is doing all the damage, biting-which is the main issue, kicking, hitting, throwing toys at his brother. Its just endless. And constant.
I feel I can only reason with him so much because he is so young, but he is sooooooo aggressive

What are your strategies?

I need to make our house more peaceful but I really don't know how.....Its really doing my head in!!

[Arimeh]

We have lots of fighting in this house, mainly stupid fights like snatching toys from each other, or hitting or pinching. Sometimes the bigger ones shut the baby out of the bedroom and she screams and bashes on the door to get in - its so very joyful.

They just seem to like picking on each other! I diffuse as much as I can, but I can't be everywhere all the time - there's 4 of them, and sometimes there are two different fights going on at the same time (or DD3 is fighting with a toy, or shoes that she can't get on so she's screaming and the others are fighting - still noisy!)

Ours doesn't end in blood very often though, I'm pretty big on punishment when they REALLY hurt each other, so its not often that they bite because they don't want to end up in their room for a time out (mummy time out really for me to calm down!)

Um, so no advice, just know that you're not alone really...

[Santosha]

Easier said than done, I know, but this is the approach I'm *trying* to take when my littlies fight.
Embracing Sibling Conflict | Core Parenting - Parenting Resources in Portland, Oregon.

I physically intervene to prevent violence where I can but I'm also trying not to intervene in the actual problem solving. When I do it well. I've been pleasantly surprised as to how quickly the tension dissipates once they've both been acknowledged and heard, and I'm hoping that it will ultimately give them a deeper ability to relate to eachother and others in times of conflict or disagreement.

[Heaven]

Yep, I do the same as Santosha. It really works, really quickly. My biggest challenge is remaining calm myself and remembering what to do.

[Lady-bug]

Thanks Santosha, that link is great. I think it might be a bit too old for my youngest though...or am I under estimating him?? He is not speaking at all, except for 'mum', so there is no real verbal communication between them, hence why it is all physical.
I'm trying to find a balance of letting them sort it out themselves (to a dergree) and intervening before it gets hairy.
DS2 is just so quick to launch at DS1 and I cant be there at every second of the day.
I guess I'm not sure of how to handle DS2 after he bites DS1...I don't think aggression is going to help an already aggressive little person.