Kids These Days

You know what kids need to really thrive?

Other kids!

Like most kids in this country, Brady P. got whisked out of school and isolated from all other kids.  

For months.  

I didn't realize how detrimental that was until kids crept back into his life.

Friday through Sunday, Brady P. gets to hang out with his little brother, Cedar.  A five-month-old baby (his dad's baby, not mine!).  Brady P. gets to be a big brother for real.  And he is so good at it!

I'm not actually there to observe it myself, but I heard that Cedar just adores his big brother.  Awww!

Brady P. gets jealous when other people love on Cedar, but he is realizing that he is not the baby anymore.  A huge milestone for any child.

Monday through Wednesday, he gets to hang out with my boyfriend's son who is two years older.  Both of those boys get to learn a different dynamic now!  

As he just jumped into these new weekly roles this summer, I think my little man misses being the only child.  He exhibits signs of jealousy due to both the other boys in his life.  But I know that somewhere in there, he loves them.  He just needs to process it all and express it the best he can.

Even if it's expressed by momentary clinging on to me or Grammy or Dad and telling the other boys "Okay, bye!"

Lately, sometimes when we play out in the yard, the neighbor girls come over to play too!  So then we have four kids running around with each other and two moms who get to feel like people and have adult conversations.

It's so good for everyone!

Watching these kids run around with each other, chase each other, use their imaginations together, set boundaries for their own personal space, laugh together, make mistakes with each other and so on, is so wonderful.

Parents can't teach that the same way kids can teach each other.  Kids are more like equals -- whether they are bigger, older, faster or stronger -- they are still kids.  And they need to relate and form bonds.

I'm so grateful for this summer time.  It really is starting to feel like summer!  And I know there are other kids we can still put into the mix.

It's not just good for the kids, it's good for everyone.  Let them be kids!!!