Can they be that close
Just let me state for the record
We're giving love in a family dose
~Sister Sledge
Andy shot the Superdad glare across the room at me the other night. A shiver went down my spine. Superdad glares are never good...
Why the glare? It seems Amy had succeeded in tripping me up in one of the oldest parent-child booby traps in the book: playing us against each other.
Like most parents I know, Andy and I have an unwritten rule. We've got each other's back. Fighting about any childrearing differences is a behind-the-scenes affair. It's the whole united we stand, divided we fall parental approach.
But Amy, she's a smart one. She targeted me at a moment of total weakness. I was busy answering e-mail number 10,122 when she sauntered into the office and asked ever so sweetly if she could have a sleepover with her brother.
"Sure ..." I mumbled as I hit send.
What she failed to mention, however, was that her dad had already given her the big N-O. And I hadn't checked to see if she had already asked her dad, which is standard operating procedure around our house.
To be honest, I really like it when they sleep together. It's sweet. I failed to see what the big deal was. But when Andy shed some light on the situation later, he explained that the reason Amy wanted to sleep with Jack wasn't really a noble, sweet, sisterly sort of thing.
Her motivation was fear. She was scared. She'd been watching too much Scooby Doo. And she did't want to sleep alone in her room. She wanted to be with someone...anyone....
The little guy across the hall in the dinosaur pajamas would do just fine.
Of course, Andy thought she needed to tough it out. (I know, I know ... he's right. Tougher is better.) But I felt the need to make an exception, which honestly is rare for me.
It felt good to me that in this case, for the first time ever ...
JACK COULD DO SOMETHING FOR AMY.
He needs that. She needs that.
Okay, who am I kidding..
I need that.
So when I explained that to my tough-love husband, it was an easy sell. He quickly and completely got it.
Amy and Jack had their sleepover. And in this case, the little brother in the dinosaur pajamas got to be the supportive sib for a change.
And we all had sweet, sweet dreams...
******
The Early Show on CBS completely got it this past week as well. Do yourself a favor and check out their piece on autism and its impact on siblings:
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11 comments:
Always the worry the the neurotypical child won't feel neglected. You were much missed!
I meant will feel neglected. One has a virus the other is teething. Not at my sharpest.
Oh no Jenn!!!! Virus AND teething. Run for the hills!!!
oh how i've missed you! and you are back with this beautiful, heartwarming, thought provoking, utterly YOU post .. well, of course you are
So glad you're back! Beautiful post - I'm sure Jack will reveal many things he can do for Amy as time goes on.
Hi!
KK took the words out of my mouth. I'm sure there are things Jack is continually doing for Amy - they're just not always as easy to see. Love the pict!
Thanks for the video clip as well. I appreciated the stat that 76% of siblings are going into human service professions.
I really loved that 76% stat too!
So glad to reconnect with my blogging buddies. I've missed all of you too and have some catching up to do!
That is so touching. And can you blame her? Who wouldn't want a live in snugglebunny?
Absolutely. Hell, I love to sleep with him!
When Sam whipped himself down in the driveway screaming about his pants hurting (we live in Minnesota, time for pants!), my daughter Abby said, "Does this have to do with his problem?" I looked at her and said, "Bingo." We've gotten past the pants almost in his acceptance of our climate but no socks yet. :0)
When my son gets upset, he goes after his big sis a lot. It is nice, and RARE to see them getting along. I cherish these moments!
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