November 17th, 2008

Raising These Kidlets is Hard Work

My girls are only 4 1/2 and almost 3. Both are shy and are totally not the kids who will go with anyone or will play with just any kid they see on the playground.

Sometimes it makes me a little jealous that the other kids will play and talk and do anything without the whole deal we go through, but I know that’s just my girls and Anna has special social needs.Anna & Claire

My girls stick together like Chang and Eng. I love that they are so close, and I know will it eventually backfire on me when they’re plotting the takeover.

For now, they do pretty much everything together and barely fight. They have the same friends, the same toys, and dress alike (not the SAME - alike - gah).

We went to the neighborhood park yesterday, and right away, Anna saw a friend of hers from her school. They immediately locked eyes with the “I see you - I recoginze you’re here - No verbal communication needed - Let’s go slide” look. If you have toddlers/pre-schoolers, you know the look.

Anna went off with her friend, and in the 3 seconds it took them to disappear into the tunnel, Claire realized Anna had a friend that wasn’t also hers.

And that was the first time I saw my Bear jealous of her sister and left out of playing with her. Her face immediately dropped and tears welled up in her eyes. And in that second, every feeling I’ve ever had of being left out of anything all rushed in.

She came running over to me to find her place to belong. I brought her closer and tighter into my arms and reassured her that Anna was her sister and she loves her. And I love her. And her daddy loves her.

DAMN. Raising these kidlets is hard work.

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