D and his Cousin A

D was super excited this past week. His favorite cousin, A, was in town. Both of them are just two weeks apart and that explains the bond they share. When they get together, they are inseparable. They play, eat, sleep, read, bathe, watch TV and even whine together. It is joyful to watch their friendship and the love they have for one another.

We did a lot of fun things this past week. A trip to the zoo, amusement park were the highlights. Little A was thrilled to be a part of the fun and excitement as well although there were times when she was ignored and not included by her older siblings, because they deemed her as 'the baby' and felt she didn’t play well with them. And to be honest, sometimes, A doesn’t play well. She is quite territorial now. Everything belongs to her. Mine, mine she cries, if someone happens to touch let alone pick up one of her toys. So the older kids let her be and did their thing. Of course, as expected, little A butted in whenever and wherever she could. They would play well for sometime but invariably, she would end up crying or whining about something. Nothing unusual, to say the least. She is one heck of a bossy kid and it will not surprise me if she ends up being the 'leader of the pack' a few years from now, calling the shots while her two older siblings timidly following her orders! It was overwhelming no doubt but at the same time heartwarming to watch the cousins hang and play together. I just hope they continue to share what they have even as they get older and are there for one another.

After almost a week of late night Olympics, meals, kids insisting on watching movies way past their bedtimes while munching on popcorn, squealing, laughing, screaming, chit-chatting, crying, I was sad yet relieved to start a new week. On Saturday, D moped around the house feeling dejected and sad that he will be saying goodbye to his cousin the next morning. He felt better only after several reminders that he will be seeing her again next month!

As my brother- in-law and sister-in-law were getting ready to leave, I offered my beautiful niece help with her sandals. She told me, "No, Borma (elder aunt), only D will help me with my sandals because I am his lovely sister and he is very very good and I love him very very much."

She sat down on the edge of the staircase while her loyal and sweet cousin brother helped her with her footwear. Two little beings looking out for one another, helping each other with utmost care demonstrating their simple yet loving relationship they have managed to create. A relationship that hopefully will become stronger and tighter as the years go by.