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My kids are alike in many ways, but they are definitely individuals in ways I've tried to articulate in the past.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, they gave me a single story that illustrates each of them, perfectly.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Sean goes over near them, and is watching intently.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
"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?"<\/p>\n
He keeps offering it, and asking, over and over, until Sean finally shrugs and reaches for it.<\/p>\n
At which point the kid chucks it backwards over his own shoulder and has a good laugh with his buddy.<\/p>\n
And here are my kids:<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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?!?"<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Actually, while all this was going on, Zoe went over and picked it up, and she's standing right where it had rolled.<\/p>\n
They walk over, bending over and talking in that "charm little kids" high voice.<\/p>\n
"Hiiiii. Can we have that? Can you give that to us?" They pause. "Do you want to kick it to us?"<\/p>\n
Zoe looks at the ball, extends it out toward them…<\/p>\n
… and CHUCKS it back over her shoulder, into the trees and long grass.<\/p>\n
Then walks away, without even looking at them.<\/p>\n
So… my kids, in summary:<\/p>\n
– Indifference
– Drama
– REVENGE<\/p>\n
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