Monday, June 2nd, 2014...1:10 pm

Together
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My two boys, at nearly 2.5 years and 5 years old, do not play with each other. In the pre-bedtime witching hour they occasionally rough and tumble on the bed, but that is the limit of their playful interactions. This is something we need to work on. Oz is willing, Spike less so.

However, changes are afoot. There used to be very little conflict between the two of them – their worlds simply did not collide, but now Oz is a little boy that wants to be heard. If Spike does something he doesn’t like, he tells him so. Oz is interested in how Spike occupies himself and, much to Spike’s irritation, places himself in Spike’s personal space to observe him. Today, they had an argument about whether to watch Paw Patrol or Peppa Pig. I’m sure most parents would sigh at siblings bickering, but I thought “How brilliant! They are interacting.” To build a relationship, they need to notice each other and have opinions on each others movements. That seems to be happening more and more.

We also get more moments where they want the same thing. Today, when Spike came home from school, he asked to change into pyjama bottoms and to look up logos on his iPad. Oz wanted a snack and to watch a show on his iPad. I had resources to make, so we all sat around the kitchen table, companionably, and not even in silence. It was lovely. Again, other parents might bemoan two faces glued to technology, but we were interacting and happy. It was good.

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