Running Interference

As much as Buby dotes on his baby sister... As much as he protects her and cheers for her and loves her with continuous kisses... As much as he tries to show her new things and be a sweet example... he has his days. Yesterday was one of them.


My generously well mannered, patient, kind and hilarious little blond boy was testy with Bleu, territorial with his things, and twice asked to leave the playroom for a brief time out to reflect on his behavior.


For example. If Bleu happened to walk in the direction of his building block tower or train tracks, the rocking chair, or the guitar he was not using, Buby jumped right up to stop her in her tracks. I think he was genuinely fearful that she would take his things and flee the country with them or something.







Regardless of the reasons for his sensitivity, he's very big and she's still little, so the let-them-work-it-out strategy doesn't work for me. Not yet. I have to be on constant boo boo watch.


At one point I saw Buby stick out his foot to trip an oncoming Bleu and then look at me to see if I was watching. Yes, he got into trouble for that. Later he tossed a plastic egg at the back of her head, pretending it was to land in the bowl next to her. {We were playing a game, but I have a feeling he shot to the left on purpose to see what would happen.} He was quick to say "I'm sorry." Then he swiped a toy from Bleu's tight grasp, replacing it with another unsolicited toy while explaining "You have to share!" He slithered into her rocking chair while she was still in it, causing her to tumble out. Etc. Etc. He kept asking me when I was going to put her down for her nap. Buby needed his personal space back.


I'm trying to reinforce for Buby how much he loves his sister, keep things positive, and remember it's natural for big brothers to have growing pains. It's a process. But something tells me if the girl came first and the boy second, the dynamics would be so different.







Luckily Bleu is a good sport. Buby roars and jumps and gets in her face, and she doesn't mind one bit. She's fearless in that respect. In fact, I mind his occasional picking on her much more than she does. Maybe because I was a tortured little sister once, too, and I still remember it. I have no tolerance for any meanness {if that's a word}. Plus, I so want them to be BFFs while they are young.


That said, it's obvious Buby loves Bleu to pieces. And vice versa. It's in everything else he does. She is the first person he asks for in the morning and the last one he blows strawberry kisses to at night. He just wishes she wasn't always in his business. I understand that. It drives me nuts when he acts on it, but I totally get it.


By the time My Sweets got home the house was quiet, but I was mentally done. I was tired of playing ref and tired of hearing my own voice. As I'm sure were the wee ones. Tomorrow is a new day. Thank goodness for french fries + Grey's Anatomy.