This wasn’t the post I was intending to write today, but as with most things based on the littlest Tanaka, things often go in an unexpected direction.
My two girls are separated by 21 months, so at the moment I have a six year-old and seven year-old. My son is eleven, so being an older boy, he’s in a slightly different league. Although, he loves playing with his sisters (even if he wouldn’t regularly admit it). My girls are currently in a love/not-so-love relationship that with my understanding is only just beginning.
A perfect example presented itself after school today. The older daughter poured some Pirate’s Booty into a bowl for her little sister, while she poured caramel/cheddar popcorn for herself. A nice gesture, right? But of course Little noticed that the bowls didn’t contain the equal amount of snacks. She had less. And was not happy about it. Let the whining begin!
Of course this all goes down while I’m in the bathroom, so I curiously peek around the corner to see what is happening. To my surprise, the little one decides to open every single drawer and cabinet she can (including the dishwasher door) in her protest.
I instinctively giggled at the sight (which didn’t help much), then calmly asked Little what the matter was in an attempt to diffuse the ticking time bomb. We talked about options, fairness, choices, helping vs. hurting, etc. (mostly directed towards the older one). I also praised her for not choosing to throw things or hit in anger. This was actually the first time no one or nothing got injured.
Five minutes later it was a different story. One which involved crying.
It’s a learning process for all of us. The girls are blessed with their close ages because I’m pretty certain they’ll be besties for life. There will be fights, there will be tears, but there will also be hugs, and comforting texts when mommy and daddy just don’t understand. There will be secrets and surprises. And no matter what, they will always be sisters.
This is part of the Write 31 Days series, “Going on Six.” To read more from this series, please click here. Thank you!
