For example, Monday when I got a phone call about Cece complaining of a headache at daycare. It was about 4 o'clock so off I left to get her, thinking she probably will be fine by the time I got there.
Oh no, not the case. After getting her home she went right to the couch and passed out. While I was making soup and biscuits for dinner, Arlo quietly played with his basketball in the kitchen, sure he knocked over several glasses and a candle, but he was legitimately being good. He was patient and didn't bother Cece once while she was snoozing.
Once dinner was done she had woken up around 5:30pm and took one bite of soup and announced she needed to throw up. So off to the bathroom we went and let's just say the night consisted of Cece with her bucket, Cece in a hot shower for 45 minutes, Cece on the couch with bucket again, Cece passing out and waking up in need of the bucket. All the while trying to break a fever and she was in massive pain with a headache. Our girl is a champ when it comes to throwing up; however the headache, that was a new thing for her. She hated it complained about it and only found comfort when she would put pressure on her head and the rest of her body into the couch.
All this was going on and Arlo wandered around, quietly, he was very aware of how Cece was feeling. Usually, after school we walk in the house and they start chasing each other, playing games with one another or medalling in the kitchen while I make dinner. He knew that night was different, that she need him to be quiet for her, so he was. He sat on the opposite side of the couch while she slept; he watched some cartoons and finished his dinner while she took a shower.
When it came time for Arlo to head to bed, he demanded a hug from his sister, she was out cold. I let him lean over and give her a squeeze. I picked him up and headed towards his room and he yelled "KISS! Kiss Cece kiss!" So we walked back to her, still dead to the world, and he leaned over and kissed her head and he whispered "Ni-Ni Cece." While my heart melted to the floor.
He was so good for her.
Even though the night could have been crazy and messy amongst other things it was not. I'm chalking it up to the fact that my kids feed off each other. Most kids do, just ask any teacher. Cece and Arlo have a connection that only a brother and sister can have. He is the ice to her fire. She is the calm to his storm. One weaves the other bobs.
Because of that bond our night was slow; it was filled with soothing words to keep Cece calm. Arlo stuck close to me while I was taking care of Cece but he never once felt the need to be given any attention, he just needed to be close. I understand they are young, so young, however they love on a completely different level.
Last night Cece was distraught about Nate being gone for a couple of nights for work. She bawled and screamed about it. Even while Face timing she was struggling, she got to the point she couldn't get a handle on it. So we got home, sat down for dinner and while I was finishing something in the kitchen I heard her giggle for the first time all night. I poked my head in the dinning room, and there Arlo was with a sticker on his head. She giggled a little bit more when he put another one on his cheek. He realized what he was doing and by the time he had every sticker in his Happy Meal stuck to his face she was laughing out loud and saying "Boy, stickers don't go on your face, they on paper and your shirts!"
She jumped off the seat and ran to get him paper and while they ate, they decorated paper with his sticker. He completely turned her mood around. He accomplished what Nate and I had been trying to do all evening by giving her the opportunity to make fun of him. The greatest part about that was she didn't even do that, she simply showed him what to do with his stickers and kindly told him that he was "a silly Arloboy."
It's not always Arlo doing for Cece. In the car when he needs help with something or around the house, he simply hands her the toy or bag or points what he needs opened and says "Help" she immediately takes it without saying a word, does the job and hands it right back to him. He always says "thank you" and she always says "your welcome boy" and again I don't think she realizes what a huge role she plays for her brother. That he trusts her with so much and for our boy that is a big deal. He is apprehensive when it comes to people. If they are together they aren't very far apart. When they are apart they randomly ask about the other.
We wanted our children close; we want them to have a strong relationship. I think at this point they are showing us that they got this, so we are just sitting back and enjoying it. Their relationship sometimes makes our job as parents easier.
I forgot to mention, that I wrote this months ago and just now found it on my computer. This happend back in November I think? I just wanted to make sure I documented it for later use when they decide to go though the stage of being at each other's throats.
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