There are unspoken rules among siblings. We all seem to obey them, often into adulthood. Setting aside the bickering, competing and drive to one-up each other, a brother or sister will show up at your side when you need them most.

The chaos reached new heights at our house last week as we welcomed friends and their dog to stay with us. A few days of rain and we had all — even the dogs — had enough togetherness.   

Yells and yelps echoed through the neighboring streets. "You're not the boss of me!"

They argued over riding shotgun, the last cookie, the next movie, who gets to hold the remote and who chooses the next game to play. The visiting dog won both the cookie and the remote and finished an afternoon game of billiards (a.k.a. throw the ball as hard as you can across the table without knocking out your sister) by taking flight when backs were turned and landing in the center of the table.

It seems that, in a pinch, even our dog obeys a few rules when it comes to her feline "sisters." I call it Sibling Rule Number Two: When we're at home, I can mess with you if I feel like it or if I have nothing better to do. If a kid at the park pushes you, or the bully on the bus even looks at you wrong, I've got your back because we're family and we stick together. And deep down I love you.

Our pooch came to the rescue when her canine partner in crime woofed and growled at the cats. The pup stepped up with a "grrr" as if to say, "Those are my sisters. You can't chase them, even if I can." She loyally came to their defense, like any good sibling.

As a mom, I wish my kids would all just get along every day. As a sister, I recognize the bond that is there in the midst of the bickering. They love each other. We see it occasionally.

Which brings us to Sibling Rule Number One: Be good to your brother or sister. They're the only ones who understand the uniqueness that is you, how you got so screwed up and how to make you laugh in any situation.

Life is returning to normal in our adorably chaotic house now. Our sweet pup has gone back to alternating napping with barking up the tree. Visitors have fled (gone home with their families) and the girls are well occupied at school. They check in with each other after school to make sure no one is getting "messed with" in class or on the bus, because "you know they aren't allowed to do that." Then they promptly resume harassing each other.