Last updated on May 6th, 2024 at 10:26 am
We are half way through the year and summer has appeared. There is something so refreshing about the blue skies above us and our park adventures after school and on weekends together. The kids seem really grown up all the sudden too. I keep looking at them thinking time is really flying by. B is somehow almost done with his very first year of school and MM will follow him come next September. As my very last year with a little one at home during the day, I am planning and making the most of our time together. I can’t imagine what it is going to be like when the house is quiet, when there is no lunches to be made and no classes to taxi my little to and from. I know it is going to come faster than I want or think.
I have been really impressed with how much the kids still stick together thick as thieves especially when there is a big group of kids together. I know on the play ground or at a party they will always have each other’s back when needed. But lately I have noticed a slight shift in B’s friends wanting or actually not wanting his little sister to tag along with them. A few birthday parties where he asks me why his friends don’t like him bringing his little sister with him? I really feel for him. He doesn’t understand because he wants her there to play and run around with. Some don’t have siblings so I am sure it’s foreign to them to have a sibling be your friend too. There are many tears from MM when her brother’s friends tell her she can’t play with them and I find I am constantly in the middle of it all. At first, B would just grab her hand and pull her around with his friends but now I can see he looks back at her but doesn’t move unless I tell him to.
The one thing that upsets me is I can remember vividly how I felt when my own brother’s friends didn’t want me tagging along either. I remember how crushed I was that my big brother stopped standing up for me and asking me to always be there with him too. So I am heart broken for MM when this happens. It’s a horrible feeling. It didn’t mean my brother wasn’t there for me in a protective way because he always was and I think B still is for MM. But when he is with his school friends there is a small divide all the sudden. I am hoping this goes away next year when she starts and his friends see that she is a student and not a baby anymore. It’s one of those thing you don’t know if you should jump in or not. Somedays I do make him come back and play with her and other days I distract her and let him have his time with his friends.
I just wish his friends understood how close they are at home. I wish they weren’t trying to change that relationship between them. I hope it doesn’t change them. We go for walks in the park and I listen to the stories they tell each other, the adventures they share and the fun things they get up to together. I get a little emotional thinking that his friends just doesn’t understand all that.
Together sat on a park bench enjoying a special ice cream celebration a few weeks ago they were full of smiles and laughter. It made me so proud to be their mother and also so grateful for my family. Life throws us curve balls sometimes but the way they look at each other and instantly fall into fits of giggles is something I will never get tired of witnessing. 
TOGETHER THEY ARE LOVING:
Sunny days and swimming at David Lloyd Gym.
Ice cream surprises in the park on a special day.
Making what to watch list together on their Netflix accounts. (#StreamTeam).
Building lego figurings and playing make believe.
School is almost out and we can’t wait for our trip to America. I am ready for some down home country life living with family around us and the kids outside in the pool everyday. It’s going to be a good one I can feel it. A place the kids can make memories with each other and their cousins as much as I can recharge my batteries and spend time with family. 
My kids are two years apart and when they were younger, they were inseparable as well. They are 12 and 14 now and both of them always have each other’s back but I think it was good for them when they stopped “depending” on each other so much. It was good for them to have that independence from each other as much as it is good that they are such good friends. They know now, at home, they will always have each other. When nobody else is around, they’ll be there for each other. But, they need their life away from each other as well which just makes their bond stronger.
That’s such a great way to look at it and thank you for that. Yes I see that in my two they really depend on each other so maybe I am not doing any favors jumping in. They will always have each other at home and I guess we shall see when MM starts school how the school friends go.
Oh it must be so hard to be the little sister left behind! We’ve not come across that just yet, though it may be because my eldest two are girls so Kitty’s friends are still happy to have Elma tag along with them but I hope it never changes for them either – I’d hate to see school be a reason for the sibling closeness to fade a little so fingers crossed a nice long summer together cements their already solid friendship 🙂
Yes I agree definitely because it’s not B’s friends that are girls that are harsh about his little sister tagging along its the boys in his classes not liking it. I definitely hope her starting school next year too will help it all settle down. She just cries so much about being left behind at drop offs and pick ups and playing on the playground after school my heart goes out to her. Bless.
My Children are the same age as yours and I completely understand as im seeing it myself. I find it so hard to get the balance. I try not to take my youngest Harri to Meme’s friends parties as I worry sometimes she depends too much on her sister but it breaks harri’s heart. It’s so tough but I’m hoping they will find their own way. Sigh nothing is ever easy is it!? Xxx
I know I have the same problem with parties too but have no one to take MM so she has been to all the birthday parties. B doesn’t mind but I can see a little shift in his friends when she is around and not around. I hope though when she starts school they will realize she isn’t much younger and all play nicely together.
They look so, so close and you can completely tell they’re siblings. Hopefully, as his friends get older they will begin to understand x
Yes, I definitely am hoping that when they are older the friends will just get on with it and accept she actually isn’t much younger than them.
Gorgeous photos. That is a shame about B’s friends with MM. My two are close but all of Zachary’s friends love Charlotte and vice versa with her friends. Maybe this will change with B and MM when MM starts school and they are playing in the playground. I bet you can’t wait to get to America! Not long to go.
I think and hope you are right when she starts school. I think at the moment because she is still at home his friends treat her like the little baby sister so when she goes to school and they see she isn’t much younger than them I hope that all changes. Either way, I am grateful it hasn’t changed B’s way of thinking about his sister.
That’s so sweet how well your kiddies get on. Mine have a teeny age gap and are 1 & 2 and although they fight, fight like mad! They really do love each other and are in each others pockets all day. It’s the sweetest thing to see. Hopefully that bond will always last and as your sons friends get a little older, the age difference may not seem so different and they may see your little girly as another buddy to run around with. All kids are different and their version of normal is different too. Gorgeous pics!! My daughter faceplanted an ice-cream last weekend x
Oh bless ice cream faces are the best. Your two sound amazing as well and I think as they get older all these little things that bother them like siblings tagging along don’t matter and they all become one group. I remember hanging out with all my brother’s friends and dating one of them even haha as we are close in age. So hopefully this is temporary.
Oh Jenny, my heart just broke a little for her. What a poppet. I guess it is just the way it is, but I can tell you this – in a few years time, probably those same boys will be part of a group that will be joining B in protecting his little sister. Boys are so protective that way. And lord, she may end up dating one of them haha!! #TheSiblingsProject x
I did say that to my hubby that one day these will be the boys she will be crushing over. hahaha It is sad though when other kids want just to play with one or the other bless. I hope you are right in the protective group for her.
I get so excited about the fact in a maximum of 4 months that we can join in on the siblings posts! It’s such a cute idea and you’ll be able to look back and see them growing up together Love this so much!
-dearlittlelucas.com
Yes that will be so exciting to see you join in babes. It really is a lovely project to document their bonding experience and love as siblings. It’s great to look back on too as they grow up together.