Friday 13 March 2009

Wedging 'Boy' in the play oven

For the first six months of his life she referred to him as 'boy', refusing to say his name. I think she hoped that after a couple of weeks he'd go back.

When he was in the moses basket she would often give him cuddles which involved laying atop him and covering all his air passages with her love.

Once, he was in his bouncy chair fast asleep, only a few months old, I went upstairs for less than five minutes. When I returned I found her playing with her kitchen and the bouncy chair ... empty.

He was lying in a little ball on the carpet sleeping soundly. I hoped that she had just wanted to include him in her tea party and had not attempted to wedge him into her play oven.

Recently they have started to play together more, communicating in pretend adult voices (with an American twang), as they pretend to be parents taking their child (our poor dog) camping to the beach (our hallway).

Sometimes they sit on the sofa snuggled up together watching TV, other times they sit there and argue about who is touching who, who has the most space and who has control of the remote (so they can accidently purchase a diamond encrusted shoehorn on QVC).

When a child gives out birthday sweets at the end of her school day she always gets two, one for him and one for her. When I tell her she's not supposed to get two she looks aghast ... "But he's my brother!"

Half an hour later they will be arguing again. Yet, if she is not there he always wants to know where she is and vice versa.

As I write this they are playing with Mr Potato Head and sharing ... that's right SHARING. If I had written this last week the 4 year old would have been hiding some of Mr Potato Head’s vital limbs so that the 3 year old can’t complete his ‘Tatie Head’.

I hope their relationship will continue to blossom and that as they get older they will still want to spend time with each other ... albeit still bickering.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

How lovely. We're not quite at that stage yet I don't think; the Toddler still likes to play human dominos with the girls. When they were very small I once forgot to strap one of the babies into her bouncy chair. I turned round to discover the Toddler sitting heavily down on the bottom of the chair, catapulting his poor sister over his head and onto the floor. I don't know who was more surprised.

pinkgecko said...

I got my little boy a dog rather than a sibling. He won't share food with anyone, but I caught him sneakily placing his dinner in the dog's mouth this evening. Whilst still finding sharing toys with children a challenge, he will quite happily allow George (6 month old newfie x, 7 stone) to disappear off with Iggle Piggle. I got George because Jake has a significant speech and language delay and he finds it very difficult to relate to children. So far it's worked. It's taught him team work. They team up to destroy the house.

Metropolitan Mum said...

According to the legend, my older brother pushed the pram out of the house, shut the door and said 'the baby has left'. He has been trying to get rid of me ever since, but even feeding me newspaper, throwing me into the deep end of the pool (literally) and steeling my sweets couldn't make me love him any less.

Merrily Down the Stream said...

I hope so too! My twinkies are best friends - worst enemies and every thing in between
but mostly they are great playmates. If they didn't have a row now and again I'd wonder what was up.
xoxox

Michelle said...

My boys call their younger brother "Squirmy Wormy" and have since birth. Cute, yes. But I'm wondering if they even KNOW what his real name is.

Mrs. C. said...

Sweet..Pony Girl called Jones "Fat Boy" for many months, because he had the most chubby squeezable cheeks. Also "Soy Boy" when we had to go a round with soy formula. I don't know if she realized he had an actual name for a while...

They are still good buddies seven years later, and we count our blessings for that every day.

Nice, nice story today!

and1moremeans5 said...

my 3year old and 2year old are the same, one minute best of friends and playing, next trying to beat the living daylights out of each other! its lovely to hear sibling stories as i was an only child and i wish i would have had someone to grow up with! x

Anonymous said...

Ah bless them. I'm very close to my brother. It is such a unique and special relationship. They are very lucky to have that.

Blythe said...

I didn't know the kids I nanny for when they were that young, but since I have known them they have almost always gotten along. I continue to be shocked at how easily they avoid fighting. It always makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside!

b said...

what a sweet story, my kids have a bigger gap and I cherish the time when they play sweetly together, that is what keeps me going through the rows

Reasons said...

That's lovely. Enjoy it!

Lucy Filet said...

That's too cute. I actually never had any sibling rivalry to speak of with my kids. My oldest was 8 when her brother was born and was so ready to have another person to blame stuff on...

Then the others were just so rapid and there was ALWAYS SOMEONE around. I see some now though, with the youngest being almost 3.

Anonymous said...

Why do kids talk in an Amerian twang when playing? My sons (9&10) do when they're playing Lego or Star Wars. Although, as their step dad is American I'm never 100% sure whether it's something they do because of TV or they're taking the p*ss. Best to remain guessing on that one!