"Now, I have to fight you."
My heart literally melts almost on a daily basis watching my two boys help, protect and encourage one another. Oh wait - I'm not saying they don't fight, because I can guarantee they surely do. Just like any siblings, they're constantly going at it about something - they're angry, one made the other cry, they're arguing over a toy, someone said something mean, one touched the other, etc. But at the end of the day, they are brothers and they are best friends.
All I have to do is watch them on the playground, at the pool or when one is trying to do something new. I am bound to see something special. For instance, today Eli was having a hard time getting up on a step and Silas said, "Eli, did you want up here? It's okay. I will help you." He grabbed his hand and helped Eli up. Eli replied, "Thank you, Si."
Later, at the pool, Eli accidentally fell in. Eli is extremely cautious in and around the water. He basically stays on the steps, with his "muscle suit", not daring to jump in and actually swim. So, he was leaning near the edge and somehow managed to fall in head first. Luckily I was right there, it took me a moment to realize what happened, get to him and get him out. He was stunned. Speechless. It was the calm before the storm. I knew at any moment the tears and sobbing would ensue. Before this could happen, Silas immediately cheered, "ELI! You DID IT!. You got all the way in the water, all by yourself. We're so proud of you!!! GOOD JOB, E!" Suddenly, Eli realized his great accomplishment. He threw both hands up in the hair with a jump and proclaimed, "I did it all by myself!! I did it!!!" Of course he did not want to do it again, as he was terrified, but also very proud.
But this may be one of my new, all-time favorite stories. Silas got in trouble this afternoon. I wasn't in the room and wasn't sure what had happened. But what I saw was Eli Jackson, all 3' 3" of him, looking up at his daddy with his finger pointed saying in a stern voice, "Hey. Why you do that to Si? You don't do that to Si. Now, I have to fight you." He proceeded to "kick" Dusty. I say "kick" because he was mostly just moving his leg back and forth in the air while determinedly yelling, "Hiiii-ya!". Perhaps he should have immediately been corrected, but that's kind of hard to do this when you're laughing...hysterically. I mean, it. was. funny. The seriousness in his face, the sternness of his voice and that pointed finger moving up and down was just too much to handle. He is big stuff, I tell ya.
I'll never get tired of seeing those kinds of moments where my boys stand up for, help or encourage one another. It definitely warms my heart and makes me so proud. Let's just hope all this love makes it's way through the teenage years. On that, I'll keep you posted. But for now, at least I have it documented - they'll never be able to deny that at one point they were best, best friends.
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