When I was pregnant with child number two, I really REALLY wanted it to be a girl. I wanted my oldest to have a sister and I wanted them close in age and I wanted them to be best friends.
It was really just a wish to continue re-living my childhood through the lives of my own kids.
AND IT CAME TRUE!
I got my sisters.
Sure they have rough patches…there was that time when Maile gave Laina a bottle of stool softeners and convinced her they were jelly beans. And that time Laina got her baby hands on Maile’s precious art work. Naturally there have been scuffles and bickering along the way.
I know someday they will be at each others throats. Laina will stain Maile’s new white top, Maile will steal Laina’s homework and pass it off as her own…the two of them will not always be in love. But right now? (And for awhile now). They adore each other.
When Maile is at school and one of the daycare kids proclaim that Laina is their friend, Laina gently reminds them that Maile is her friend first. Naturally I chime in with the whole “we’re all friends” bit, but deep down I’m just thrilled at Laina’s loyalty to her big sister.
Nothing makes me happier than when I hear them carrying on a conversation with one another such as this gem yesterday at lunch after they got home from the beach:
Maile: We had two boys following us at the beach…one brown one following me and one yellow one following you!
Laina: Yeah, and the one following me was tryin’ to CHASE me!
Maile: Yeah but you’re faster right?
I love the reassurance here. The underlying sisterly advice: We are faster and better than boys. Period.
I have no idea how I lucked out with sisters who love each other. And I am going to happily stay naive to the fact that they can completely flip that switch any day now. Nope. Not gonna happen. They will always be best sisters.
Here’s a video of me telling a sisterly story that transpired between Maile and Laina this weekend:
Click here if you can’t see the video. I’m enjoying the extra concerned look on my face in that still frame.