I think every mother of multiple children has asked the question, “Why are my children so different from each other?” Oh, you could go into a whole discussion about genetics versus environment – first child syndrome, middle child syndrome – and “baby of the family” syndrome – but, as a mother, and now a grandmother, I staunchly believe that every child is born with a unique personality – and that no matter the other influences, this personality will conquer all in the long run.
My two grandsons – Otto and Wade – are perfect examples of “personality will win out in the end!” Otto (age 4 – brown hair and beautiful brown eyes) is always a little bit careful, requiring explanations of what is happening, why it is happening and what will happen next. He is very social – gregarious to the point of distraction at times, yet cherishing his time that is uninterrupted by his younger brother Wade. On the other hand, Wade (age 21 months – white blonde hair and startling blue eyes!) goes about oblivious to any perceived danger. He marches to some unheard drummer – and really does not seem to care if he communicates this tune to anyone! A fearless climber, he has already had a hairline fracture in his leg (sliding off a bed) and a dislocated elbow (who knows what happened…) – and yet he continues to challenge the odds and strives to defy gravity whenever possible. Their mother, my daughter Betsy, tries very hard to keep a constant eye on Wade – but somehow he manages to slip through and find mischief whenever possible. The photos of Otto and Wade demonstrate their differences:
- Wade eating the ice cream he had purloined from the freezer, all on his own, with a spoon he managed to extract from the kitchen drawer. The back view of his T-shirt says it all!
- Otto – sequestered away in a special place they set up for him in the attic – working away on his Star Wars Lego models – happy that Wade is not “messing up his stuff!”
We love them equally – and maybe their differences make it easier – because we will never mix them up!
Le Top blog 