Siblings fight, it's human nature right?  Cain and Abel, Wally and the Beaver, DJ and Stephanie - all were at each others' throats, literally in some cases.  My children are of course no exception. They battle over the XBOX, the remote, the scooter, the red crayon.  Some days it seems I hear nothing but "Don't touch my stuff", "Don't touch me", "Mom, she's touching me", "Mom, he used my ipod."
     How come knowing their fighting is normal doesn't permit me to accept it more?  Always it saddens me a bit.  And even though I know I was the same with my brother, over way less cooler stuff, I still can't help but ask "Why?"  "Why do they have to be so mean to each other?" "Is it the TV shows they watch?"  "Do my husband and I not provide loving enough role models?"
     Recently, however, I was granted a glimpse into something entirely new; something beautiful, something I dare describe as sibling compassion. I know, it sounds like an oxymoron; sibling rivalry yes, sibling compassion, doesn't exist, check Websters.  And yet, it happened.
     The other day my son told me someone at school was calling him "weak". (He is on the shorter side and some of his friends outweigh him by 20 lbs.) Of course, my first instinct was to give him advice in a humorous tone "Ah, just tell them to eat another Twinkie." Then, as I paused to question the maturity of such a reply, my daughter  - wholly oblivious to our conversation just two minutes prior - entered the room.  Hands on hips, eyes narrowed, she asked in a voice which would have put fear in Dracula himself  "Who said that?".
     I had to smile as my son beamed up with newfound pride in his big sis.   Just knowing she cared, she really truly cared and was coming to his defense, was sufficient to put all his prior fears to rest.  A calmness swept between the two of them and I saw sincerity and something true and good.  She was on his team, his protector, his guardian angel.  Was this real?  Would it pass?  I didn't know but...for that moment, life was good, they were normal, and I was a pretty good mom afterall.

Mama Kim
www.lifeskillsreportcard.com
 
 


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