leave my sister be

I'm the youngest of 4 siblings. We've always had an unspoken rule... we can say anything we want about each other, but nobody else is allowed to mess with us. I think that's pretty typical of most families. It is certainly a rule that I've tried to share with my kids, especially Max as the older brother. Abby is a natural defender, Max, well, not so much a natural.

Yesterday, their older cousin was tickling Abby and she was screaming (with delight - but that's irrelevant to the story...). Dan and I were sitting in the kitchen when Max loudly proclaimed "Don't you hurt my sister!" When that didn't work (because the other two were pretty caught up in their tickle fight!) Max yelled "Leave my sister be or I'm telling on you!"

I thought I might cry into my coffee (which may have ruined a good coffee - thank goodness for self-restraint).

The relationship between Max and Abby always seemed like it would be one-sided... with Abby being the initiator, the protector, the little-sister-trapped-in-a-big-sister role. Not the case, I'm pleased to report. In yet another amazing turn, Max has accessed the big-brother within, and it's made their relationship all the more wonderful to behold.