One Sock at a Time

Lately I've been in awe of Buby's brotherly love. It's doting on a whole new level. He says he misses his sister when he's at school or she's down for nap. He picks out Bleu's clothes in the morning and insists on helping her ready for the day. It's his new thing. He cracks the strangest jokes and sends her through the roof with laughter. He runs out of the room to grab something but first assures, "I'll be right back, Nola, okay? Okay? I'll be right back. I promise. Here's your baby."


He is eager to teach her everything he knows, in a nutshell. He cheers on her potty training feats and explains to her why she should eat her peas at dinner. He is sweet and nurturing and {mostly} gentle. He is much more patient and slightly less bossy, and she takes notice. I think Buby finally sees Bleu less as baby sister and direct competition and more as little sister, friend and equal participant. I always said that I couldn't wait for the day my kids stopped ganging up on each other and started ganging up on me. I meant it. I want them to feel that sense of team. And now they do. It's the coolest.


We play hide and seek and they huddle together so tight in a pile of plushies. They have their own language and humor, which luckily I'm in on... for now. They profess "love you" when I'm not looking. Buby initiates and Bleu reciprocates. They feed each other's imaginations and pretend all sorts of things. They reach for a hand in the car and give big hugs good morning and good night. Sometimes I forget there is more than two and a half years between them. When we are immersed in play--the three of us--they seem almost the same.


Of course there is always the possibility of madness and mayhem with two wee ones running around. Surely rivalry will rear its head again, as sibling relationships are cyclical, but for now I'm soaking it up. Soaking up the love. Buby and Bleu are incredibly lucky to have each other, as My Sweets and I are to have them. And I think finally, they know it.