brotherly love...

My boys have always shared love/hate relationships with one another. They play so well together and have so much fun (in fact, Connor rarely wants to have friends over...I think he considers his brothers his live-in friends), but I'd be lying if I said that they don't argue as well. Oh boy, do they fight!!! My mom is always saying, I just don't remember you all (me and my siblings) fighting like that. I remind her that she has two boys and two girls and we were born alternately (boy, girl, boy, girl) with most of us being spaced four or more years apart. I think that having all same sex siblings creates more rivalry....at least that's what I keep telling myself. I really do think that there is more competition among kids in families when there are either all girls or all boys. I don't have anything to base this on, it's just a hunch I have.

All this being said, over the past few weeks I've been noticing more from the boys on the love side of the relationship and less fighting. It has been heartwarming to watch. I've especially noticed Connor making very specific efforts to lift up his brothers and really take on the responsibility of being a big brother that Coby and Cale can look up to. I've been telling him for so long how important his "job" is as a BIG brother and how his little brothers look up to him and will want to emulate him. How that makes it so important for him to compliment them when they do a good thing and to also just be a positive role model for them. I love seeing him slowly wanting to be the proud big brother rather than just one that finds his brothers annoying OR even the one who spends his time annoying them. Over the past month, I have witnessed some really positive changes in Connor. It is such a beautiful thing to watch...our firstborn is really growing up on us...he's slowly becoming a young man (whether we're ready for that or not!). I've always known that Connor has a very big heart, I am just glad that he's choosing to show it a little more freely here at home.

There have been so many sweet moments shared between the boys lately, but here are just a few that come to mind for now...Connor and Coby's school had a colonial fair on Wednesday. This is a fundraiser for Pennies for Patients. Each student is to take only 25 pennies and they are able to buy popcorn, root beer, tealight candles, marbles, homemade goods, candy, etc. with it. Connor spent the majority of his money on me and Cale. He brought Cale home a marble and some candy and for me, a little yarn ornament. I thought that was so sweet and Cale was so excited about his colorful marble (but mostly I think he was thrilled that Connor had thought of him). He just kept saying, "Thanks for the marble Connor" over and over...the whole way home from school! Another sweet thing happened after school on Thursday...Coby was going through his backpack when he pulled out a dinosaur book and handed it to Cale saying, "I found this at the school library for you Cale. I need to return it tomorrow." Cale LOVES dinosaurs and I thought it was so thoughtful of Coby to see that book and check it out with Cale in mind...even if he was going to exchange it the next day for a book for himself (he can only check out one book at a time since he's only in 1st grade).

It was nice to have a week where the brotherly love outweighed the brotherly battles. It was a much needed "break" for me...I needed a little time off from playing referee. Yes, it's been nice, but I'm no fool. We have a three day weekend ahead of us and I'm sure I'll be intercepting many an argument during that time. At least I won't get bored.