Joanna Fortune: My two sons are in their teens and still argue — what can I do?

Our two sons have never really got on. There's a five-year age gap, which probably doesn't help...

Dr Joanna Fortune: "Your younger son sounds like he is trying to find ways to provoke a reaction but also a connection with his older brother, who, in turn, finds his younger sibling immature and irritating." Picture: Getty Images

My two sons have never really got on. There's a five-year age gap, which probably doesn't help. They are now in their teens, and the arguments sometimes get physical. The younger boy likes to wind up the older one, who has a temper. I've begged them to stop, but there's a lingering resentment between them. What can I do?

Your sons have a significant age gap (at this stage of their development) and may feel they have very little in common with each other. Your younger son sounds like he is trying to find ways to provoke a reaction but also a connection with his older brother, who, in turn, finds his younger sibling immature and irritating.  What is happening makes sense for where they are developmentally.