As a parent, there are few things more amazing than watching your children interact with each other. There’s a really interesting shift going on in the dynamic my own kids (pictured) have with one another right now. I see little shifts here and there every few months, but what’s happening now is special. It’s like they’re really gelling together as siblings and becoming their own little unit.
Royce, who is five-and-a-half, has gone from thinking his younger brother Brendan, 4, is the most annoying, horrible thing on the planet to seeing him as a comrade and live-in playmate….on most days. The tables have turned and now when Brendan tries to pound on Royce, he will say, “Hey Brendan, don’t hit me–I’m your buddy, I’m your big brother.” He has also gone from complete indifference to his 18-month old sister Hayden to falling completely in love with her. He tiptoed into her room the other night when I was putting her down and gave her a kiss goodnight. I nearly fell off the rocking chair.
Brendan has thought Royce was the coolest from day one, even when Royce was pounding on him, as brothers do. Having been a preemie, it has taken Brendan a long time to get to the point where he is physically capable of playing with his older brother, but he’s there and it warms my heart to see them making up games and running around having the best time together. Brendan has always been crazy about Hayden and I don’t think that will ever change. He sings to her and tells her little stories; it’s adorable and I really need to get it on video.
Hayden is the happiest, coolest chick I know. Nothing bothers her, and if her brothers are acting like morons, she’ll look at them, look at me and then roll her eyes like, “Who are these crazy boys?” She’s a lucky little girl to have two older brothers who love and protect her, but she’ll probably hate it when she’s older because they’ll scare the boys off.
With baby number four coming at the end of January, our newest little bundle will become a part of this special sibling group as well. Watching them all grow, bond and defend each other is a journey we’re looking forward to.
