Matchy Matchy

I've caught glimpses of Maddie and Jack playing well together, getting along, caring for one another, taking turns, being kind and nice to one another. Thank goodness that this is starting to happen more and more frequently. I went into being a parent of more than one child with a clear understanding that I wanted my children to be close. This is very important to me. I've talked in the past about how we choose our space of our home (small) to basically be in each others personal space. How we choose the spacing of our kids (close) with the hopes that they would be "in to" the same stuff and become playmates and develop a close relationship.

In the last week Madeline and Jack have demonstrated that this is happening. They have started to develop their own games with rules, characters and props. They play "Koo Koo Kangaroo", trains, school or house together. They have started to put on shows and role play games. It is funny to see how concrete their thinking is in regard to roles. Maddie is always the girl role (mom, sister or grandma) and Jack is always the male (dad, brother, grandpa). The male is tough and does "manly" things. Maddie is often caring for her Baby Sue or cooking "Sheppard's Pie" out of sand and dirt. They have places to play that are away from me, so this can be exciting for them and allows them to regulate their own interaction with out mom-moderation. Madeline will follow Jack anywhere..which may or may not be a good thing. This very morning, I came up from the basement to find the backdoor open, as was the garage and the garage door. Jack had gone to retrieve a Frisbee in the neighbors yard and Madeline was doe-eyed excitedly following her big brother outside of their normal boundaries.

I've been patiently waiting for their positive interactions to happen. Watching them interact warms me from the inside out. However fleeting these moments are, they are hopefully the building blocks for a strong sibling relationship that will be supportive and deep.

So they have developed games, roles and routines with one another. I noticed them playing Hi-Ho Cherry-O together the other day, they set-up the game, took turns and cheered each other on before Jack decided that the game was over. Maddie fully supported her brother in this. But there was a moment that they were both sitting on the floor together looking at the game board leaning in to focus and their heads touched. It was a gentle bump of "nuggets" but was potential for an argument. But they just stayed engaged in the game and sort of leaned on each other for a minute during the game. It dissolved all of the "Mom, he is looking at me" claims, ever.

But what is really funny is that they have begun to coordinate their outfits. Madeline's dress phase is still going strong and in the morning when she put on a fancy princess dress Jack went into his room and changed into his "wedding clothes" as he calls it. He wore a suit (including a tie) all day long. They played "Prince and Princess" together all day. The next day they both decided that they wanted to wear Vikings Jerseys and jeans.

I think that this matching is an outward sign of something that is going on deeper inside of both of them. I think it is a clear signal of the bond that they are developing with one another. I hope that they continue to grow together and always find it appropriate to together wear their Prince and Princess outfits, Vikings jerseys or Koo Koo t-shirts.

Eventually we will just have to buy three of everything so Noah can be a part of the fun as well!!