Big Sister

Tessie has had her struggles with being a big sister at times.  She has moments, like all siblings, when she doesn’t want to share her toys, her snacks, or her mother.  Sharing me has probably been the hardest for her.  I try to give my children equal time but the truth is that Christian simply demands more.  I have always been amazed at Tessie’s patience and love for her brother, even when it is difficult for her.  Today she went above just being patient with her brother, today she was his champion.

All day long Tessie got Christian his toys when he dropped them, she handed him his milk, sang him songs, and gave him hugs.  I could count on her to calm him down and make him laugh.  She was an angel.

As I was making lunch Christian started to reach the end of his pre-nap rope.  He was sitting in his high chair, pushed up to the table and Tessie kept up her wonderful big sister act and entertained him while I prepared their sandwiches.  She danced in front of him and made silly faces and Christian was laughing appreciatively.    But despite her great routine, he stared to fuss.  I came around the corner from the kitchen just as he really started to wail.  I started to try to calm him when all of a sudden he simultaneously pushed his chair back from the table and lurched to the side.  He flipped up and out of his chair and before I could blink all I could see were his feet. 

I leaped across the table without thinking and grabbed his leg, pulled him back up, and held him close, all in a flash.  As he started to scream louder I started to shake all over and tears streamed down my face.  Just then I felt a tug at my arm.  I looked down at Tes and she started to sing.  “Twinkle, twinkle, little star.”  We crouched down and she sang to her brother, his crying stopped and my heart rate slowed.  By the time Tessie finished singing Christian was smiling.  Even through my subsiding panic I was touched by Tessie’s protectiveness of her brother. 

The kids sat down to lunch and I watched them chatting to each other about their peanut butter sandwiches, completely forgotten was  the moment of terror that had just passed.  I was in awe of my little girl and the amazing sister she was.  When I find myself struggling with her lack of patience for her brother I will think back to today and her beautiful soothing song.