The Escalating Joy

I am a fairly observant person and I like to make mental notes of the things that make me happy. Mostly so I can go back to them and forget a particularly lousy day I have had or am in the middle of having. Because I am observant I have come to the conclusion that there is nothing more significant or frigging cuter than watching a child develop from birth to the age of four. I have the good fortune of watching two children develop through those ages and it brings me nothing but escalating joy.

The oldest is four, and he is definitely becoming his own person. He has a little bit of an attitude going, but I would imagine every four year old does. No matter how he may feel about my wife, my son, or myself, that kid is the best big brother I think I have ever seen. When his little brother starts crying for any reason (and the little one will cry for any reason), the first person there to comfort him is his big brother.

The oldest

It has been a long time since I was a four year old big brother to a younger brother, and time and a fading memory allow me to forget the ways in which my brother and I interacted with each other. But when I watch the four year old try to help his two year old brother put on his winter jacket to go outside, I suddenly hope that my brother and I got along only a fraction as well as these two do.

When the youngest wants a toy the oldest is playing with, the oldest will simply hand his brother the toy and immediately stop the lectures we were giving the youngest about sharing. In the mornings, I can hear the two of them talking to each other as I come downstairs. I don't think they know what each other is saying, but I am pretty sure it doesn't matter.

The Youngest

I would like to apologize in advance for any of the misgivings the two year old will run into when he hits his teen years. The kid has boundless energy and loves to throw things when he is mad. I'm not talking about throwing something to the floor or maybe tossing it a few feet away. I am talking about throwing it across the room and you better duck or its going to hurt. But then he hits you with those eyes and it is impossible to stay mad at him.

The youngest still has the high pitched baby voice, but he is learning words very quickly. His newest thing is to make the fake sleeping sound when he is ready to go to bed, and I have to admit that it doesn't get much cuter than that.

Yeah, the wife and I would like peace and quiet once in a while and a chance to sit down for more than 30 seconds. But when the day comes to an end and those two little faces say they love you and give us kisses good night, it is really easy to forget just how draining it can be to raise little ones.

Is it worth it? We wouldn't change it for the world.

George N Root III is a Lockport resident and proud grandfather. Follow him on Twitter @georgenroot3, or send him a message at georgenroot3@gmail.com. Good night Abel. Good Night Dean. Bapa loves you.