Brother Keeper

The kids don't always get along. Not by a long shot. Georgia is often the instigator, she loves to get Rainer's goat. He'll be on the trampoline, for instance, and she'll just come right up an sit real close to him and wrap her legs around him. This drives him bonkers and she LOVES it. She just laughs the madder he gets! Little stinker.

A common refrain in our house is, "No, Georgia, stop! Don't do that!"

I am not trying to say Rainer is never an instigator. Oh, no, he is a toy swiper, big time. But, when that happens there's less actual commentary about it.

As much as these two bicker with and bug one another, though, I can see more and more what a strong bond they are developing. They seek each other out and Rainer, I have to say, is getting pretty protective of his big sister. I mean to say he looks out for her. I don't think she particularly likes it right now, and some might call it tattling, but there's something in his tone when he talks to her that really makes it seem more like care and concern.

For instance, Georgia has a habit of chewing on the straps of her chair. We discourage this because we don't want her to wear them out and there are more appropriate things she can chew (like her chewy tube). This morning Rainer saw Georgia chewing on the straps while I was in the other room and instead of coming right in, I listened to how he handled it.

"No, Georgia, don't chew that. Not supposed to chew dat. Georgia, stop chewing..."

I was going to go in because although Rainer was using a gentle tone and not yelling or reprimanding I was getting a little uncomfortable with all the "no" and "stop." I know this is language Georgia gets, but she needed an alternative and not just a lot of "noping," as I call it. (Although I WILL say, one of the awesome things about other kids is they just say it like it is and don't get into all the psychological language of it all, whichis surely going to be helpful at tomes.)

I was thinking all this when Rainer apparently decided the same thing and said, "Georgia, you need a chewy? You need a chewy, Georgia?"

He said it with such concern and sweetness, I am writing this from my mush pile on the floor.

Georgia IS the big sister, but she's going to need help in this life. I am so glad her brother seems to be willing to step into that role.

Comments

[RK]

Very cool. I'm seeing similar interactions and I think it is so neat. When all the tackling and annoying that Kinlee loves to bug her sister with calms for a moment, kiKi really does love her sis and always has her back.

[Jen]

It's so nice when sibs can help each other out. How cute that he offered her a distraction instead of just continuing to tell her "no." Sweet!!

[Michelle Z]

ohhhh love him!!

[Tommie]

This is just so sweet I can't stand it. My kids are opposite yours, with my older one the typical one and the younger being the one with developmental challenges. But I do so love it when I see that they're there for each other, even when they decide it's them against us (us being the parents.)

[starrlife]

Awww. how adorable is that! Many a time I wish that kayli had a sib.