My kids are alike in many ways, but they are definitely individuals in ways I've tried to articulate in the past.
Yesterday, they gave me a single story that illustrates each of them, perfectly.
We had to drop off Kaylee at camp, and after the paperwork and unpacking in the cabin, everyone was supposed to assemble at 'the field' to say goodbyes and play games.
So we went down there, and see about forty kids milling around, visiting, et cetera. There's a makeshift kickball field, and a couple boys about a year younger than Kaylee, kicking a soccer ball back and forth.
Sean goes over near them, and is watching intently.
One of the kids notices this, and veers off his direction, letting the soccer ball roll over near the edge of the field by the trees and long grass.
"Do you want a ball too?" he asks Sean, extending a old, dirty, yellow rubber ball. "You can have this one. Do you want it?"
He keeps offering it, and asking, over and over, until Sean finally shrugs and reaches for it.
At which point the kid chucks it backwards over his own shoulder and has a good laugh with his buddy.
And here are my kids:
Sean frowns at the kid, shrugs as if to say "whatever man, I don't even know you, and that ball was gross anyway" and stalks off to do something else.
Kaylee, who'd been standing next to me, takes a couple steps forward and starts in. "Really?!? You're starting off a week of camp, WITH ME, and the first thing you do is pick on my little brother? THAT seemed like a good idea? Really?!?"
And the boy backs off and rejoins his friend. They both realize they don't have the soccer ball anymore. It's over at the edge of the field.
Actually, while all this was going on, Zoe went over and picked it up, and she's standing right where it had rolled.
They walk over, bending over and talking in that "charm little kids" high voice.
"Hiiiii. Can we have that? Can you give that to us?" They pause. "Do you want to kick it to us?"
Zoe looks at the ball, extends it out toward them…
… and CHUCKS it back over her shoulder, into the trees and long grass.
Then walks away, without even looking at them.
So… my kids, in summary:
– Indifference
– Drama
– REVENGE
