Shenanigans

Anyone with kids knows they keep you on your toes. Especially when you have more than one and get to experience the parental side of sibling rivalry.

My boys are 21 months apart and could go from best friends to sworn enemies and back around in under a minute. It was always an adventure with them, whether they were getting along or not. I wouldn’t trade my time with them for anything in the world.

My oldest son was a mostly quiet, reserved child. He was chill. Give him some cereal, cartoons, hot wheels, and little army men and he was content. He could play by himself all day and wouldn’t cause any trouble.

My younger son was hyber, rambunctious, loud, and generally all over the place. He rarely sat still. If I turned for more than two seconds he would tip his stroller over, wiggle out of the belt, and be gone. He was always getting into something and typically bothering his brother for some attention and play.

He would get a kick out of pushing his brother’s buttons. I tried to explain to my oldest that little brothers can be like that, I know mine was. I told him if he ignored his brother he’d stop. But, my little man didn’t have that in him yet.

So, it was a game of cat and mouse that took place frequently. I typically stayed out of it and let them work it out, as long as it didn’t get loud or violent. I believe children need to learn to figure some stuff out on their own because I won’t always be there.

As much as my little one bothered and annoyed his big brother, he also loved him to pieces. When another kid was picking on his brother he raised up like it was nobody’s business.

Let me share some of the most intense moments of raising these two young men. When they were about 3 and 5 we had an incident. I went upstairs to tinkle (because that’s the only break a mom gets and when everything explodes, it seems).

I came back downstairs to the boys looking scared as hell. The older kid rammed the younger kid’s face into the kitchen counter, which was at the perfect height for his face. One of his front teeth was missing.

I was frantically searching everywhere for it. Every corner, under the couch, in the garbage disposal, and in every other nook and cranny that didn’t make any sense. I called their father, who of course blamed me.

I took my son to the dentist to figure out what happened and what we could do. They ended up doing an emergency surgery to pull his tooth out of his gums! That’s right, the force was so powerful that it pushed his tooth back inside of his gums. It’s a wonder he wasn’t screaming bloody murder in pain.

My son was missing that front tooth for about three years. Along the way, his other front tooth ended up dying and having to be pulled as well, so he was missing both of his top front teeth for a couple of years.

A few years later, as I was once again taking a quick bio break, payback was had. They were playing cops and robbers and the younger brother slammed the big brother’s face into the hardwood floors to “arrest” him. His adult front tooth broke in half.

Once again, I rushed to the dentist office and he had some temporary substance attached to his teeth until he was able to get braces and get a crown a few years later. And, once again, their father blamed me.

As young men, they still have a beautiful bond, which still looks like a (mostly) love and (sometimes) hate relationship. It’s hilarious to listen to them argue. It’s also fascinating. Sometimes, they actually switch sides during an argument and I don’t even think they realize they do it. My old roommate and I would just get popcorn and listen.

If you have children, particularly if you have more than one, please feel free to share some of their shenanigans and if they get along or not!