Our kids differences

Isn't it interesting how one set of parents can have such different children?  We only had two but there are very unique characteristics of both.  I'm the youngest of eleven and you can be sure the similarities and differences are still quite apparent - and we're in our forties and above.  We probably drove our mom and dad nuts.  I often wondered how they could remember what each of us liked and whose clothes were whose.  I'll bet every sibling of mine knows my childhood nickname, Picky.  My food couldn't touch each other on the plate and I refused to eat a burger if it wasn't totally plain... No ketchup, no mustard, nothing. Just bun and burger.  I still can't stand condiments, they gross me out yet I put them on my kids sandwiches today... The things we do for love.

When Jeremy was born, by emergency c-section, he had a cap full of brown hair. He was actually due on leap day but I assured Mike it wasn’t going to happen because I didn’t want a child with a birthday once every four years.  In hindsight that would have been pretty cool.  He was pink and perfect weighing eight pounds fourteen ounces.  Three years later came Christopher with the reddest face and blonde white hair.  He came out blowing bubbles and weighed slightly less than Jer at eight pounds ten ounces. Both were born at breakfast time, go figure they like/liked breakfast food even for dinner.

So how are they so different when they're raised in the same house with the same rules and values?  I guess it's that God given thing called individuality.  We have two boys but I know whether you have all girls, a combination of both and regardless of how many - they require different handling once their personality shines thru.

Jeremy happily chatted from his crib upon waking from his nap and waited for us to come get him.  He'd call out and talk but stayed put.  Christopher hopped over the crib railing when he awoke and wandered out to find us. Neither required much sleep, much to our dismay.

How do the sizes vary so greatly? Jeremy started out heavier but Chris ended up close to a hundred pounds more.  Jeremy runs, Chris lifted weights and was a lineman. One blonde, one brown.  Glasses, no glasses.  Seafood lover, carb lover, introvert, extrovert.  I remember family holidays and summer gatherings when I couldn't find Jeremy for a sec, then there he'd be in a quiet corner out of the commotion of kids racing around the yard and family gabbing in groups.  He wanted some peace meanwhile Chris was the one doing the racing. Jeremy likes to read, Chris called his friends for a quick synopsis of the book he should have read.  Like we didn't know? Jeremy's birthday is even numbers, Chris was all odd.  Jeremy's a sharp dresser, Chris needed twenty four hours notice with several reminders as a kid - that he needed to put on a collared shirt if we had an event to attend. He was all about sweats and tee shirts. The list goes on as I bet it does in your home with your kids or siblings.  Make a list so you can see it too.

I remember being at the bank one time when we needed the boys social security numbers.  Who do you think blurted them out? Me.  I don't know how I knew them, I don't recall memorizing them. I guess I was intrigued as to how those numbers were assigned to our children.  I think I stunned Mike and the bank manager but I never forgot them, I like the uniqueness.

I joke with people sometimes when they can't quite comprehend I have ten older siblings.  I say "we're either all adopted or none of us are!"  We look too much alike not to be related but we're all so different it's hard to believe we came from the same parents.  Personally I don't know how eleven can be so thoroughly loved and cared for but I lived it and they can. We are.  I don't know if I could do eleven justice but I'm thrilled to have two that I know so well :-)

God bless and thank you for reading.