Kids!
Hubby and I were laying down this evening (I wasn't feeling the best) and of course there was a ruckus in the livingroom. So I went to see what was going on, and found dd crying & ds lecturing.
Me: So what's going on here?
Zach: I admit it, it was my fault. Anna was calling me mommy over and over and it annoyed me so I hit her with a pillow & hurt her nose.
Me: [thinking hmmm, not quite as annoying as the perfume I used to spray my brother with, but still, a great way to get a brother's goat!] Anna, is that what happened?
Anna: He also hit me on the head with his hand. And I hit his hand.
Me: So...why were you calling your brother 'mommy?'
Anna: [pause] To annoy him.
At this point I burst out laughing, and eventually both kids started laughing too. My son, who has been trying very hard since his week at camp to not let little things annoy him, let out this huge sigh.
Zach: So THAT's why! Here I thought it was all my fault for getting annoyed, and that was the point!
Oh, I laughed all that much harder! Here the poor boy (who has grown spiritually leaps and bounds lately) thought he just wasn't doing a good enough job of keeping himself from getting annoyed, when she meant it all along!
We had a good talk on communicating what we're really feeling (dd was tired of watching the video & wanted to do something fun together), and how to respond (assume she's annoying him for a reason & ask if she wants some attention instead of hitting as a response).
Whew. Glad that's settled. For today anyway...
Merry (a recovered annoying little sister, but now a sometimes annoying wife and mother...) :-)
3 comments:
I really like this story. I remember annoying my siblings as a way to connect with them.
Oh I was laughing out loud with this one Merry. You have such sweet kiddos. :)
I was the littlest sister. :D I'm sure I was annoying but really I wanted someone to play with me!!
LOL-- I don't recall ever annoying my older siblings on purpose, but I must have, because I remember my mom always saying, "Stop antagonizing your sister/brother!" (I had both.)
My son can sooo relate to Zach's experience. He is his sister's favorite interactive toy-- she knows all the buttons to push. But they are getting better as they get older. I love your get-to-the-root-of-the-problem response.
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