Just the two of us

Last week I wrote about Big Brother going back to school. Things have gotten back to a routine. Little Brother has joined Big Brother in the bedtime and wake up time schedule. I thought Little Brother would be sleeping in like I had gotten used to all summer but he didn’t. At the sounds of his Big Brother waking up and moving around he sat upright and was out of the bed in a matter of seconds.

The first sounds of the morning is that of an alarm going off...twice. Followed by either myself or my husband bugging Big Brother to wake up. Little Brother sleeps through it until he hears Big Brother’s feet across the floor as he makes his way to the bathroom. Not even 5 seconds after that you hear the pitter patter of Little Brother’s sleepy feet dashing to see where the eldest has gone. A few minutes later both kids end up on the couch sharing a quilt letting out cute little yawns while I run around making sure nothing will get left behind when Big Brother leaves for school.

The first days of school Little Brother was a sad sight. He would see Big Brother and myself putting our shoes on before our drive to the bus stop and get his shoes off the rack and whine. As we would close the door behind us we would hear the heartbroken wail of Little Brother. A glimpse before getting in our truck was an even sadder sight of Little Brother standing in the window crying. I barely leave the house without Little Brother attached to me and so the fact that not only was his brother leaving but also his mother too must have been a shock. I’m sure that once we pulled out of the driveway Little Brother must have noticed his dad was home with him and forgot about being left behind. I am always relieved when I return ten minutes later to see that Little Brother is no longer upset and is playing or eating.

By the fourth school day Little Brother no longer seemed fased by Big Brother going to school. He now waves bye to us and blows us kisses as we shut the door. I think the difference has been him realizing how differently the day goes once Big Brother is gone. I allow him to go play in his Big Brother ‘off limits’ room and when I open the door for him he lets out a squeal of delight before he begins dumping and tossing around all of Big Brother’s ‘special things’. I do have to clean up Big Brother’s room and put his things back in their places before he gets off the bus. I learned my lesson after the first day when Big Brother came home, running straight to his room and slamming the door and coming straight back out to yell, “UHH, Little Brother wrecked my room, all my cars aren’t where I parked them and my books are knocked down!”

During the summer Little Brother fought off naps like they were the plague and when I did get him to sleep the slightest noise or movement would startle him. Being the Little Brother must be tough because you are always being left out and trying to not miss anything. Fighting for your favorite spot on the couch to someone who is bigger. Little Brother has the determination of a bull after red because he can kick almost anyone off the spot they are sitting if he really wants it. Just last weekend he kicked his tota off his own chair at his own house...Yes, Little Brother is still the bossy little bully even when he isn’t at home. Now with Big Brother gone, Little Brother has no competition for toys, rooms, chairs, or mommy. All I need to do for Little Brother to nap is sit with him in the rocker and he is out with barely any effort. Putting him down and doing laundry or dishes has never been so easy. He falls asleep knowing it is just the two of us home and doesn’t sleep so lightly. Instead of him waking at the slightest noise, I have been lucky to count on long sometimes three hour naps during the weekdays. I forgot how much a mother can get done when you go from two kids to one and when that one is sound asleep you are only chasing none!

Another week is beginning. That means that from the time the school bus leaves with Big Brother on it until three I get to enjoy no sibling fighting and am not on referee duty. Tomorrow Big Brother is back to school again and Little Brother will be happy again about it being just the two of us.