When Benjamin was a littler baby, I longed for the boys to play together. All I wanted was for them to get along, love each other, enjoy having a brother and be the bestest of closest friends. I couldn't wait for them to get to an age of interacting, sharing, playing, laughing. Could. Not. Wait.
I really am on the verge of running away from home right now. Good golly. Not only are they playing together, but they are encouraging, copying and corrupting each other to be as naughty and destructive as possible. It is like a competition who can freak mommy out the most, make the most noise, the most mess, get the biggest reaction. The more chaos they cause, the tighter their bond it seems.
Noah adores and loves his brother. Really, so much. Until Benjamin has a sweet / toy / the 'wrong' color chair / the 'wrong' cereal bowl / the best bath toy. Possession is key with him. Sharing only really comes to play when Noah's helping of the sweets are finished, and Ben still has some left. Then Noah tells us that Ben should 'share' with him. Bunny is now so street smart that I am pretty sure he could survive in prison at this point. He knows how to hide things. He actually sits on things like a hen protecting an egg. He doesn't make eye contact. His grip is firm. I could not even pry a sucker out of his hand the other day. He shrieked and yelled and pulled himself away, turning his back to me. Like a wild animal.
As long as there is nothing to claim or possess in the room, they are the best of friends. Noah whines when I want to put bunny down for his nap. "No mommy, Ben not tired. Ben wants to play with Noah". It is really the sweetest thing. As soon as Ben's in the bath, then it's "Mommy, but I'm also dirty..." Then when I think it's safe for them to be around each other, they start the taunting and arguing again. My new house rule is "No hitting. No pushing. No shouting". Noah is also corrupting the rabbit with his naughtiness. Ben follows him everywhere and has become so so so naughty all on his own some. His new favorite word is "no". Noah's new favorite is "mine".
After all that longing for them to hang out, it really is easier and more pleasant for everyone when they are separated. Individually, they are both perfectly nice children, but together they are scary. Really. And Noah is such a tattle-tale! My goodness. Ben is more pensive and sneaky. He's the type of guy that likes having secrets and knowing things, I can just tell. Noah's the one that will cave first if they're ever hiding something. Although he is really good at lying so I don't know. He blames everything on Ben, even when his brother isn't even at home. Any broken object, eaten sweet, spilt juice, mess on a carpet is blamed on the rabbit. With such a straight face and reassurances. Noah really can talk his way out of anything. If I had to compare the dynamic in any way, I would say that Noah is a super happy, tail-wagging, charismatic and boisterous Labrador and Ben is this big house cat, sitting in the corner, not giving anything away, planning things that you couldn't even imagine. Full of mystery and sneakiness. Only surrendering for back scratches and sustenance.
Yesterday after work, we were out in the garden when Ben disappeared. I asked Noah to go check on him (as I do). Usually Noah comes running back reporting where the rabbit is. Licking the toilet bowl / throwing all the dvds out the cabinet / trying to climb up the stairs / similar. When he didn't come back within twenty-seven seconds, I knew they were destroying something. I found them in the kitchen, the fridge open, all the shelving removed, it's contents everywhere. Ben was about elbow-deep in a tub of butter, which Noah was also spreading around the kitchen floor -in even distribution. The feeling was kind of like when you get home and your new puppy has chewed up a toilet roll. Yes, that. I wouldn't put it past them.
I love how their personalities are just galloping out of them right now. I love getting to know them and figuring them out. They make me laugh to tears some days. I'm so in love.
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