With each change of the seasons and change in the children's abilities, I remember.
Like déjà vu, these wintery days of indoor rough housing, laughter, food, and alliances. There were alliances in my growing up home. Usually between me and the sibling that was providing the most entertainment. When Jonalyn let me enter her queen's bedroom and allowed me to play with her special dolls, she was my benefactress. When Jacob and I allied together to mock Jessica or create some dangerous contraption outside, we were cronies. When Jess willingly participated in whatever activities I planned for us, she was my minion.
But usually it was Jacob and me. We were the closest in age and his protecting big brother personality complimented my adventurous loyal ways.
While adulthood reflections of this union have created a nostalgia, nothing has evoked my memories like watching my own children enter into a similar union.
Something has clicked in their little developing brains. I think it must be Rose's ever-increasing ability to talk, or maybe it's Lee's respect of the spanking spoon when he persists in tormenting Rose.
Within a week's time, they've made a truce. They pinkie swore and clinked their plastic sippy cups together in solemn ceremony. From now on, you and me, doing things and making stuff and speaking gibberish.
They look at each other from across the dinner table and laugh at the very sight of one another. Rose brings Lee his fuzzy blanket and he picks up her dropped spoon from beneath her high chair at the dinner table. Their little feet go thump-thump-thumping across our wood floor as they run from their bedroom to the living room in pursuit of each other. When two minutes have passed with one sibling absent from immediate sight, they ask, "Where'd Rosie go?" or "Lee?"
When I can't make sense of Rose's baby-talk, Lee comes in to translate. Usually by saying something like, "You wanna go to the zoo, Rose?" or "You wanna eat a tree, Rose?" or "You wanna catch a tiger, Rose?"
Rose: "Yeah."
Lee to me: "Rose wanna catch a tiger."
Overnight my energies spent on engagement of children went from 75% to 50%. Laughter is the soundtrack of my meal making. Little voices. Thumping feet. Absurd suggestions. Let's pick our noses, Rose. Let's eat this paper, Rose. Let's touch our belly buttons, Rose. Let's drink from the sink, Rose. Let's put out this fire, Rose. Let's be tigers and growl at Mommy, Rose.
Like déjà vu, these wintery days of indoor rough housing, laughter, food, and alliances. There were alliances in my growing up home. Usually between me and the sibling that was providing the most entertainment. When Jonalyn let me enter her queen's bedroom and allowed me to play with her special dolls, she was my benefactress. When Jacob and I allied together to mock Jessica or create some dangerous contraption outside, we were cronies. When Jess willingly participated in whatever activities I planned for us, she was my minion. But usually it was Jacob and me. We were the closest in age and his protecting big brother personality complimented my adventurous loyal ways.
While adulthood reflections of this union have created a nostalgia, nothing has evoked my memories like watching my own children enter into a similar union.
Something has clicked in their little developing brains. I think it must be Rose's ever-increasing ability to talk, or maybe it's Lee's respect of the spanking spoon when he persists in tormenting Rose.
Within a week's time, they've made a truce. They pinkie swore and clinked their plastic sippy cups together in solemn ceremony. From now on, you and me, doing things and making stuff and speaking gibberish.
When I can't make sense of Rose's baby-talk, Lee comes in to translate. Usually by saying something like, "You wanna go to the zoo, Rose?" or "You wanna eat a tree, Rose?" or "You wanna catch a tiger, Rose?"
Rose: "Yeah."
Lee to me: "Rose wanna catch a tiger."
Overnight my energies spent on engagement of children went from 75% to 50%. Laughter is the soundtrack of my meal making. Little voices. Thumping feet. Absurd suggestions. Let's pick our noses, Rose. Let's eat this paper, Rose. Let's touch our belly buttons, Rose. Let's drink from the sink, Rose. Let's put out this fire, Rose. Let's be tigers and growl at Mommy, Rose.
Growl away and continue the play. My life is getting sweeter every day.
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Precious!