Proud of our affectionate household

Last night, I had Clair on my lap and the boys were strewn across the couch pillows "reading" to me.

They read "Bark, George," and "Picky Nicky" and "Good Dog, Carl!"

At a certain point, Cary went and got Llama Llama Misses Mama and they took turns "reading" it. Dean, ever the actor, made extremely realistic crying noises when we got to the part where an overwhelmed-by-preschool Llama Llama cried at the snack table. This made Cary decide to do the same when it was his turn to "read."

"A-hee-hee-hee," he said, with his face all scrunched. "Llama Llama wants his Momma!"

Cary's performance was much less impressive than his brother's. But Dean must've been moved, because he reached out, put his arm around Cary and said, "It's OK. It's OK, Cary." And then he kissed him on the cheek.

Cary smiled.

Then, he read the part again (pretend tears and all). This time Dean bear-hugged his brother and they toppled over onto the couch, giggling, while Dean kissed Cary again.

Clair laughed at the spectacle.

Cary caught a glimpse of his laughing sister, and climbed over to me, leaned in and kissed Clair.

Clair laughed some more.

Then Dean moved in for a Clair-kiss. He took two.

She was in heaven! So was I. Eventually, we were all stealing kisses from one another, and laughing. It was fantastic.

Then this morning, Clair was playing on the floor with her toys. After eating his breakfast, Cary came into the living room, sat on the floor next to her and said in a high screechy voice, "Hi Baby Clair. Hiiiiiii! Hello! Hello, Baby Clair. I am eating my vitamin. Hello!"


As we were leaving, Dean made sure to say "Bye-Bye" to his sister, even stopping to wave energetically at her as she sat on the floor. They are constantly making sure not to leave her out. They even say "Bye-Bye Baby Clair" to her empty car seat when we arrive at their school every morning.

I know there will come a time when the three of them will fight like crabs in a barrel and plot against one another mercilessly.

But I can't help but pray that they are building a foundation of love and affection for one another that will survive the teen years and sibling rivalries and 8 million episodes of "He-won't-stop-touching me!!"

I know it is taboo these days to be proud of your kids. Anything you say in the way of pride about their behavior or intellect or personalities gets construed as "bragging," and people are somehow more annoyed by people who are proud of their kids than people who do nothing but complain about them.

But you know what? I am proud that my boys are affectionate with their sister. It makes my heart so glad, I cannot even tell you. I seriously burst with joy when they constantly ask about her and rush to bring her a toy when she cries, or try to talk to her in baby talk or kiss her little cheeks.

And I am proud that they are affectionate (sometimes) with one another. 

I am proud to say that in our house, they have learned to love freely and openly. In fact, they will probably be sick of kisses by the time they're old enough to say so. That makes me tremendously happy.

Many aspects of my kids' personalities and life trajectories I will have absolutely no control over. But at least when it comes to this one thing -- showing them what love and affection looks and feels like -- I am proud of the example Lester and I are setting.