Big Sisters............

are the crabgrass in the lawn of life (Charles M.Shultz).

October 12 was Ella'a birthday.  Madeline can sometimes feel sensitive on this day, both dismay and joy dot her canvas as she paints the day.  So as the day came, I was thinking of both girls, and how to help Madeline make this day a good day for Ella.

I realized at 7 am what a task I would have, as Madeline began the first of many, "That's not fair"s.  I made a bargain with myself to focus on Ella and give Madeline some leeway, as she had her breakdowns.

 Ella embraced the day with her usual enthusiasm and joy, which make a birthday so fun. (For an activity she had chosen to go swimming at the YMCA on Saturday).  I gave her the day off from chores- which is always an exciting proposition- maybe on my birthday someone will give me that gift:)  For breakfast, she choose waffles.  She was excited to take oreos to her classmates, and to go on a field-trip on her birthday.  

After school, we went to the dollar store, where she told anyone who looked at her that she was now 6 years old.  Then it was off to violin, and she could barely wait to get inside the door before she burst out to her teacher that it was her birthday.  Her teacher played Happy Birthday on her violin while Ella looked on in shear joy.  She expression on her face was priceless- she thought that was so great.

A serendipitous mistake at work had Ryan home by six, as opposed to the normal 7-8 these days, so we partied with silly string, and a Jack O Lantern birthday cake, followed by presents. 

By far, the best part of the day were the gifts on Madeline's part.  A kind birthday card that communicated the true joy she felt for her sister, sometimes obscured by conflicted feelings, and her "Come on Sis, let's go ride our scooters" when Ella opened her new scooter (which she had been wanting for some time to be like Madeline and our other neighbors). 

 I was grateful I didn't complicate the day by communicating frustration towards Madeline when she also took the day off from chores and violin.  The dishwasher waited all day long for her (until Ryan unwittingly emptied it), I cleaned her room, and even her pull-up.  I gave her many hugs as she expressed her dismay that Ella got better presents and had more nice things from us.  In the end, she was able to express her love towards her sister and that was a gift for both of them.

Happy Birthday Ella.  Welcome to age 6- I hope it treats you as well as you expect it to, and deserve.