I hate spring break.
It’s not that I don’t love my children. I do. But the fact remains that while Devin is off school for a week, I have a full time job to tend to.
Luckily, I was able to work from home all week. Or at least I thought that would be a good, lucky thing.
He’s spent the last three days exploring new ways to lounge. I’ve damn near tripped over him about 8 times since Monday because he was experimenting with things like “with my feet on the wall just outside the bathroom door”.
To his credit, I do believe he’s discovered 3 new ways to lay on a couch that I would never have even considered before.
“Devin, go play outside!”
“It’s cold/windy/I was just out there for a whole five minutes.”
“Devin, go play with your friends!”
“They’re sleeping/gone/boring now because I was just there for a whole five minutes.”
And back to lounging.
And then, at about 5:30 every night, he would perk up. He was eager to play and animated and vocal. Because his sister was home from daycare.
Last night when I brought her home, he was waiting by the front door with a box of cars. She wasn’t here five minutes before they were competing in a massive demolition derby in the front entry. He was damn near doting he was so glad to play with her.
And he didn’t get bored in five minutes.
For all the fighting and the picking and the tattling… despite the “I said don’t talk to me!” and the “tell him I am bigger than a cat!”… nevermind that they fight like cats and dogs. They are, without a doubt, each other’s people.
I poked my head inside Devin’s bedroom this morning. “Hey kiddo, I was thinking about keeping Emma home today. Would you be able to keep on eye on her while I work and keep the noise away from the front office?”
His face lit up like the freaking fourth of July.
I must be doing something right.
It’s awesome that he loves his sister so much, even if it’s unfortunate that all of his friends have abandoned him during spring break so that his four-year old sister is his highlight!
How awesome! My youngest two are partners in crime, not just because they both deal with type one diabetes on a daily basis, but because they love each other.
Um… now I have to go break up a planning session on how they are going to launch an intercontinental missle from the back yard! Damn that “Phineas & Ferb” cartoon!
Siblings… who could ever figure them out?!
I have an 8-year old granddaughter and 6-year old grandson set of siblings who used to enormously get in each other’s space. Now, I see this remarkable sense of importance in the sibling thing. They share responsibilities for their puppy. They compliment each other. They cheer each other on. Yesterday, the family flew to Tampa for a national Boys & Girls Club swim meet, where Taylor is swimming a few events. Andrew literally could not stop talking about Taylor and her swimming and how “awesome” she is going to do and how he is going to be right next to the pool when she swims “awesomely FAST!” It is a “brings-tears-to-eyes” thing!
Good luck on the last couple of days of spring break… !! Devin sounds like a perfectly wonderful brother for his beautiful little sister!!
My kids are like this as well–fast enemies, but the best of friends. With my brother? I only remember the enemies part.;)
That is SO sweet. That is something I would LOVE for my children – to have a boy first so my daughter can have a big brother. There is a very special bond there!
That is so sweet!!!! And I bet you get a lot more work done, too.
That is so awesome. I have an only child, and it’s likely all we’ll have. Though I know that sibling rivalry stuff is a pain in the butt, I worry about her missing that special bond that many siblings have. I guess I worry about her missing the sibling fights too — teaches you how to defend yourself.
It’s great, isn’t it. I only have two — and sure they’re 20 years apart. But the love that siblings have is so awesome. I bet they’ll have a great day.
That is awesome…cats and dogs…that is exactly what my brother and I fought like as kids…I even “accidently” broke his front tooth! And we just told my Mom the truth about that incident last year. He was my people then and now. I’m so glad my Mom had two of us.
That is awesome Britt. Just don’t let them gang up on YOU.
Sweet.
Awwwww! You must be doing EVERYTHING right because that’s the sweetest story ever told!
Tis lovely that. And providing child care, between the two, genius.
Granted, I am emotional but that made me tear up a little. He’s such a sweet boy.
That is awesome! It’s the one thing that I hate about having an only child – no built in playmate and friend for my baby…
I love that.
That’s so awesome. Though my kids can bicker and fight…they are each other’s best friends too.
This is beautiful! I’m so happy they love each other so much. My little brother and sister are the same way–they totally fight like insanity, but they absolutely adore each other.
That? Is awesome.
I can only hope mine feel the same way in a few year’s time. (Right now she adores him, but I think that’s because he can’t speak up for himself yet.)
Dear Miss Britt:
You are a very good mommy and wife. I wish my own childhood had been as affectionate. I come from a family that was loving, but distant.
I hope you don’t mind if I plug another blog I read this morning. I don’t know how to post a link but here’s the URL: http://www.whiskeyinmysippycup.com/. I was very moved by this mother’s account of her love for her family.
A happy day to you.
Don
@Don, Well golly. When I copied the URL it automatically converted it to a link. Ain’t computers wonderful?
very sweet! I love that my kids were able to play together. They will always fight but that is just the individuality amist the togetherness.
good mom!
love those kids!
That is so sweet!
Oh, Lord. I’m just now discovering that I, too, hate spring break.
And I’m discovering all kinds of kid craft projects. I missed my calling as an elementary school art teacher.
That rocks.
I love spring break. My daughter is going to be at grandma and grandpa’s for a few days on end. Woohooooo!
That is the sweetest story about Devin, though. You are totally doing something right!!
That’s so great.
I am pretty sure in retrospect this is how my big brother thought of me, although at the time he intentionally infuriated me sooooooo much that I did things like try to smother him with a pillow. :>
I just this week had a similar revelation.
We had Spring Break last week and I had the girls home with me together every day. Normally, Anna goes to PreK MWF and Claire goes to a Mom’s Morning Out Mon-Thurs w/ Anna on Tues.
But with cuts in income, I decided to keep the girls home with me more, but with them together.
They are SO happy to have each other together rather than just hanging with me alone.
This story may come in handy in later years. Or not.
I love when my kids play together. It really warms my heart.
I loved this line… so funny: “To his credit, I do believe he’s discovered 3 new ways to lay on a couch that I would never have even considered before.”
Shit.
Obviously I should have taken lessons from him on how to be a big brother… because obviously he is far wiser than I.
It was and is the same with me and my sister. We would fight and as soon as my mom would say anything, we started defending each other. Even fighting a lot growing up, we would immediately gang up on anyone who wasn’t nice to one of us. Today in our twenties we are best friends and even share an appartment. Nothing like a sister to sheer you up when you are down.
Yeah, my 7 year old has taught me at LEAST 3 new ways of laying on the couch.
Yeah not so sure of that but; if it makes you feel better then you just keep telling yourself that.
@Stacy, thank you for your permission! It makes blogging so much easier!