Joanna Fortune: My teenage sons argue all the time

The most common issues teenage siblings clash over tend to be a lack of fairness (actual or perceived), a battle for personal space (this one is particularly relevant to your boys as they share a bedroom), and possessions (if they are taken without permission or treated with disrespect by the other). Picture: iStock 

My two teenage boys argue almost constantly, and whatever I say doesn’t seem to make a difference. The older one seems to take particular pleasure in annoying the younger one. It doesn’t help that they couldn’t be more different — one is sporty, while the other is into music. They have to share a bedroom as we’re tight for space. What would you suggest?

We want our children to get along and even become friends, but the reality is that each child has their own unique set of mannerisms, strengths, interests, and needs, and what they need from us parents is a more individualised response tailored to them.