Sibling Love

Is there any way to describe the joy of watching your children interact well together?

D is such a great big brother to A. Don't get me wrong: sometimes he gets fed up with her...she DOES act like the stereotypical annoying little sister hanging around him all the time. She idolizes him in the way that only a little sister can adore a big brother. And sometimes he annoys her, bothering her when she is doing something or acts a bit too rough. But for the most part, he is just fabulous with her.

Last Sunday was the last day of Sunday School for D at our synagogue. The teacher told me that she had everyone go around the circle and tell what their plans were for the summer. Most people talked about camps and vacation, beach time and Sea World. Daniel, too, will be going on vacation, and to camp, and to the beach, and to Sea World. However, here is what he chose to share with his class: that A was going to get her breathing tube out, and that she will get to go swimming with him for the first time, and how excited he was for that.

Now, of course we know this isn't exactly true. She is getting her FEEDING tube out, not her breathing tube (well...it IS a possibility her trach will be removed, but I doubt it). But the point is, even though he got confused, he was excited about A this summer, and about what she might be able to do for the first time.

He takes pride in her all of the time. When she says a new word, or attempts something physical, he always shouts, "Mama, A said x", or "Mama, A did y". He loves her, and is so proud of her achievements. There were a few times this year when I had to take A to D's kindergarten class (for a few of his class parties, or to bring cupcakes for his birthday, days I had to be there but my nurse wasn't working). He was always so happy to see her in class with him, and had her sit on the rug next to him. If anyone asked about her trach, he would simply explain that it was her breathing tube and that it helped her breathe. Simple.

I'm not sure how "different" he sees his sister. He must know that most kids don't have a trach, a g-tube, or hearing aids. However, he doesn't really question it. She just IS. This is how she came home. It's all he knows.

He loves her, and she loves him. I am 100% convinced that a large part of why A is doing so well is because of him. She wants to be like him, wants to keep up with him, wants to do what he does. Hence, she is a rough-and-tumble kid who likes to wrestle him, and she prefers Star Wars to Princesses (although the latter part is slowly changing). I am thrilled that they have each other---he gets to learn empathy and compassion, and she gets to strive for more.

I love watching them together....wrestling, dancing, playing Wii, singing. My two peas-in-a-pod. Frick and Frack. Brother and Sister...and I hope, friends forever.