Splinter's relationship with each Turtle
 

This is the place to elaborate how Splinter gets along with each Turtle. How their rapport is. How they interact the most. How much of a father and a sensei and a friend is Splinter to each boy. How does Splinter guide and discipline each one- and conversely, how does Splinter reward each one.

Splinter probably has an easier time trusting Leonardo and Donatello. They are probably the ones who need Splinter's guidance the least, although I still see Leonardo seeking Splinter's guidance quite a bit. They seem to be the more mature of the four turtles, so Splinter probably has an easier time letting them do things on their own.

Splinter probably has to concentrate his parenting efforts on Raphael more than anyone else, when it comes to trying to keep his anger in check.

I could see Splinter trying to help Michelangelo be more mature. Well we did see that in the cartoon, didn't we? Anyway, I'd like to think Splinter had an appreciation for Michelangelo's inner child as well.

Like MMM said, he's probably got slight more trust in Leonardo and Donatello to call most of the shots in terms of strategy since they're the best in that field. Splinter's open-minded, so I suppose in a hypothetical scenario where's he has the opportunity to do something with any one of his sons that they'd define as "fun" he'd be willing to go along. I doubt he's any more or less a father to any particular turtle in a realistic POV. Considering he's the only sensei they've had their whole life (aside from in the new show when they meet the Ancient One a short time), also probably just as much so that for any of them too and would guide, discipline, and reward the same way since they all live the same kind of life and serve the same purpose, maybe his "sensei" role gradually decreases as they become more self-sufficient and experienced.

I get the vibe that he is a dissapointed in Mikey for the most part until he does something to get his attention. Other wise I notice that when ever Splinter is speaking of Mikey he does a this little sigh and laments a bit.

Leo he is obviously happy with him and when ever he talks about him he has great pride.

Don I think even though they don't show it Splinter has good relationship with him. I notice that they end up together when the team splits up, and I get the vibe that he is very impressed and proud of Don.

With Raph I think Splinter is very wary of Raph, because of his emotional problems, and he wants him to over come them.

ooh, thats a bit harsh saying that Splinter is disapointed in Mikey. I wouldn't go so far as to that. :o

He's disappointed in Mikey for having the mind of an eight year old.

So do you think that Splinter likes Raph better than Mikey? Even if Mikey is much more easygoing and does not get into arguments with people like Raph does? Or does it depend on the specific universe? Who resembles Splinter more of the two?

How about Splinter and Donnie? I think Splinter would tell him: "Donatello- Just because I may not say your name as often as your brothers' names does NOT mean you are in my mind or in my heart any less". Would Splinter prefer that Donnie interact more with him?

How does Splinter like having a junior version of him walking around? Did it make him hurt extra that Leo was the one who got traumatized? Had it been any other Turtle, would it have been as painful?

And just for fun:

Which Turtle would lay his head on Splinter's lap while reading a book or doing some other activity? And which Turtle is most likely to fall asleep with his head on Splinter's lap while they are watching TV at night.

I'd like to think that Splinter has a close relationship with each turtle. It may not be a publicly known one, but it's close.

Oh, I love 'fun' questions like that... :D

Resting their heads in his lap... On one hand, I could see any of them doing that when they're ill. But individually... Raph maybe, but only if the others weren't there to see it. Definitely a Mike thing - I imagine Splinter being a wonderful storyteller. Donnie, maybe if he's ill or feeling discouraged about a project or his abilities.

Leo, maybe like Raphael in the terms of doing it privately.. it wouldn't be often, but it would be for times of trouble, apprehension, stress...

like any parent, I don't think Splinter "likes" one turtle over the other. So I doubt that Splinter likes Raph better than Mikey or vise versa. Though JB does make a bit of a point about Splinter and Mikey. When ever Splinter speaks of Mikey it is ushaully with some exasperation. I wonder if Mikey notices this or cares.

As for Don and Splinter, I think they have waaay more interactions with each other than what is shown on screen, certainly more than Splinter having the need to say he he doesn't say his name very much. Because I think he does, actually I suspect that he has an even more peaceful and harmonious relationship with Donni than he does with even Leo on some levels.

And I think if any of the turtles had gotten traumatised from the events from Exodus that Splinter would have felt equally as torn as he had been with Leo. Though as I mentioned in my thread Splinter has Nobody I don't think all the turtles would have reacted in the same way as Leo there for Splinter would have used diffrent methods to deal with it. Splinter used many methods on Leo before sending him to the Ancinet One, so he would have with the other turtles.

now you're getting into some pretty mushy stuff. o.O

but just to be fair, I think all of them would do that in private when the others aren't around to tease them about it afterward. And certainly when they are sick or wounded.

Well I rarely ever get mushy. So this is one of the very few and rare outlets.

I wonder who Splinter was most hands-on with when the boys were toddlers.

Least hands-on would probably be Donatello, since he is so self-reliant.

I also wonder if Splinter tolerates some things more on some Turtles than others. If he has a higher standard for some than others. If things that he looks the other way on some get an instant reprimand on others.

nah, eight year olds are more sophisticated than that now a days. Splinter is dissappointed that Mikey has the mind of a four year old. :lol:

I think Splinter tolerated more out burst and violent tantrums from Raph when he was a kid than the other three.

I don't find Mikey easy going, I find him quite agitated really, and he might not "start" fights or arguments but he does instigate them alot of the time. Half of Raph's out bursts are from Mikey annoying him and atagonising him, so...yeah, I don't think Splinter likes Raph better than Mikey but I think he tolerates Raph's anger issues more because he can't help them, while Mikey's antics are done just because he wants to.

um, I'm guessing your asking about when they where younger, because I can't see any of the turtles doing this now as teenagers. :lol: Which turtle would lay on Splinter's lap while reading a book or doing some other activity? If they where at the age they where in "fathers and sons" I would say all of them. If they where a little older like in "tales of leo" or "the Lesson" I'd say eighther Mikey or Don in front of and Leo and Raph only if they where alone with him.

Some how I can see Leo doing this the most, since I picture him being with most in Splinter's company than the others.


Least hand on in upbringing:

Don and Leo

most hands on:

Raph and Mikey.