William 4.75 is surley, saucey, obnoxious, demanding, and not always my favorite person. He talks back. He whines. He complains.He thinks it's hysterical to utter any word having to do with any bodily function or private body part. He thinks it's hysterical when he snorts while laughing. Which induces him to snort while laughing even more. He thinks that I was put on the earth to serve his every need, at the instant that he needs it. He thinks it's okay to punch his brother when his brother doesn't do what he tells him to.
Seth 2.75 is stubborn, argumentative, and prone to fit-throwing when we make him do something he doesn't want to do. He often thinks that the rules don't apply to him. And he's pretty confident that he can talk his way out of anything. He is demanding and not very good at entertaining himself. And did I mention the fit-throwing? Ah yes, I think I did.
Despite all of this, and thankfully so, there is still much to love about William 4.75 and Seth 2.75. William 4.75 is, for the most part, a very thoughtful and sweet boy. When I was sick, he spent hours drawing pictures for me to make me feel better. He has done the same for his favorite teacher, who recently lost her father. He also loves to giggle and is quick to laugh. He is curious and inquisitive and has a fabulous imagination. He loves his little brother and is very protective of him. He engages Seth in his imaginative play and he is, in fact, capable of negotiating with Seth and working out compromises. Much of the time I am proud of him.
Seth 2.75 is often too cute for words. And speaking of negotiating--if that kid does not end up as a lawyer, I will be shocked. He tries to talk his way out of everything. He is not super sensitive--things tend to roll off his back pretty easily. He is tough and independent. Although he definitely enjoys the company of other people. He is also very affectionate and very funny. He likes to walk around with no pants and one sock on. That's just his thing. He loves his brother, but he doesn't take any you-know-what from William. He has learned, however, how to play the victim when William lashes out at him. He has quite the dramatic flair. Like his brother, he is thoughtful. And he is super helpful, in the way that 2 year olds can be helpful.
It's really hard to reconcile how crazy you are about your kids with how crazy they can make you. Each phase of their lives has the good, the bad, and the ugly. Making it through the bad and the ugly and hanging on for dear life to the good is what parenting is all about. Really, that's what life is all about. Fortunately, the good tends to linger long after the bad has been forgotten.
