Working out Our Problems

When the girls start bickering, it's like nails on a chalkboard to me. It can be a small quibble about something or a major league blow out. Either way I just want it to end as quickly as possible. Sometimes when they battle I intervene to make it end.
The other day the girls were fighting about something when I told them to go upstairs and put their clothes away. I thought putting them to work might make the bickering end. When they got upstairs I could hear them still arguing in hushed tones.
I couldn't stand it anymore so I went upstairs and knocked on their door. I opened the door and told them I didn't want to hear them arguing any more.
As calmly as ever, the brunette twin looked at me and said, "Mom, we're working out our problems. How are we going to learn to deal with our feelings if we can't work out our problems by ourselves?"
I admired her ability to counter-point my demand. I closed the door, went downstairs and went back to work. A while later they came out as happy as ever. I don't know what happened, but I was glad they were able to work out their problems. Now, if they can only learn to do it more quickly.