I’ve noticed a difference in Evy and Dane’s relationship these past few months. They’ve both matured a lot- they are now actual friends, rather than just big sis, little brother. They fight over toys, they tease one another, but for the most part, they enjoy each others company.
The other day, Evelyn spent quite a bit of time coloring a wooden doll’s dress hot pink. The doll was laying on the table, unfinished. Previously, she had decorated another of these dolls—which was now displayed on her bedroom dresser.
Taking a break from her coloring, Evelyn and Dane played dinosaur together; but this didn’t last long as they began fighting over a certain triceratops. Evelyn began to cry while Dane ran away with the coveted dino. Evelyn’s tears escalated to the point that Dane gave in and returned the toy.
Feeling bad… I suppose, he ran to the table, viewed her doll and started scribbling in brown marker all over her face and dress. Evelyn screamed in hysterics at the sight of this (lovely day for me, in case you couldn’t guess.) I was upset with Dane’s behavior- and was headed towards resolving it with a punishment… but as I attempted to calm Evelyn, Dane finished his coloring and proudly presented the doll to Evy along with a big hug.
Evy and I both realized at the same moment that he wasn’t teasing Evy… he was actually trying to do something nice for her. Evelyn’s tears stopped and she quietly returned the hug. You could tell from her face that she was touched by this redeeming act of kindness on Dane’s part. Quickly, she ran out of the room and returned a moment later with her prized jewelry laiden wooden doll which she presented to Dane as a gift. So sweet, I tell you. He was very excited (don’t tell Blake.)
Later in the day, I saw the doll that Dane had scribbled on and given to Evy, displayed in the same place on her dresser that she had once kept her prized doll adorned with heart jewels. Dane didn’t treasure his doll in the same way—I think he threw it in a toy bin during clean up. But, none the less, it was a sweet exchange and one that made me feel blessed to be raising the two of them.
