As many of you know I have three grandchildren. A girl of 11, her little brother just 5, and another boy, their cousin aged 8. GD and GS1 will be 12 and 9 in October.
When her little cousin was born, two weeks after her 3rd birthday GD couldn't have been more pleased. She has been gentle caring and patient with him from day one. He adored her, she was pretty much his favourite person!
When GS2 came along. GD who had wanted a sibling since she was tiny, was besotted. Their cousin GS1 was delighted too and thought the baby very cute. He was quite jealous of his own mummy holding the baby though!
Time has gone on and they get on so well as a threesome. I love spending time with them all. They all suffered from being parted in the first lockdown, especially GS1. I often got all three together here, under the rules of childcare, just to let them be together.
The change in dynamics in the group over the years has been interesting to see. As soon as he was old enough to walk GS1 would follow GD around and want to be with her all the time. She loved him too, and for years that worked well. At one point it was tricky for GD at social occasions when GS1 wanted her but she wanted to be with friends her age or older. Somehow with adult assistance it worked out.
History repeated itself, with GS2 adoring his cousin and wanting to be with him all the time! (this is still the case) GS1 loved him and was good with him, but never as patient as GD had been with him. He would complain that GS2 was following him and wanting to be with him! I often reminded him that he was just the same with GD and that she hadn't moaned much about him!
The boys played well together when younger, then came a time GS1 really didn't want his cousin and only tolerated him. When all three were here I would be GS2's 'friend' whilst the other two did things together.
Now at 8 and 5 the boys have great (noisy!) fun together
Anyway now there is a lovely balance. GS1 adores GD still, but accepts a girl on the brink of puberty has different interests to a little boy of 8, and sometimes needs to do things alone. They do a lot together though. GS1 is in the lucky position of having a cousin above and below him. He can play being dinosaurs and boisterous noisy games with GS2, then later be doing some computer coding with GD.
They work well as a threesome, both older children include and make allowances for the youngest cousin, and praise him when he does well.
I'm glad my GC have their local cousins. GD and GS2 have one other cousin in Greece, and GS1 has cousins in France and Ely. I have many cousins (over 20) but the nearest in age who lived locally was a boy 7 years older than me so I never had what my GC have.
The relationship is lovely to witness
When her little cousin was born, two weeks after her 3rd birthday GD couldn't have been more pleased. She has been gentle caring and patient with him from day one. He adored her, she was pretty much his favourite person!
When GS2 came along. GD who had wanted a sibling since she was tiny, was besotted. Their cousin GS1 was delighted too and thought the baby very cute. He was quite jealous of his own mummy holding the baby though!
Time has gone on and they get on so well as a threesome. I love spending time with them all. They all suffered from being parted in the first lockdown, especially GS1. I often got all three together here, under the rules of childcare, just to let them be together.
The change in dynamics in the group over the years has been interesting to see. As soon as he was old enough to walk GS1 would follow GD around and want to be with her all the time. She loved him too, and for years that worked well. At one point it was tricky for GD at social occasions when GS1 wanted her but she wanted to be with friends her age or older. Somehow with adult assistance it worked out.
History repeated itself, with GS2 adoring his cousin and wanting to be with him all the time! (this is still the case) GS1 loved him and was good with him, but never as patient as GD had been with him. He would complain that GS2 was following him and wanting to be with him! I often reminded him that he was just the same with GD and that she hadn't moaned much about him!
The boys played well together when younger, then came a time GS1 really didn't want his cousin and only tolerated him. When all three were here I would be GS2's 'friend' whilst the other two did things together.
Now at 8 and 5 the boys have great (noisy!) fun together
Anyway now there is a lovely balance. GS1 adores GD still, but accepts a girl on the brink of puberty has different interests to a little boy of 8, and sometimes needs to do things alone. They do a lot together though. GS1 is in the lucky position of having a cousin above and below him. He can play being dinosaurs and boisterous noisy games with GS2, then later be doing some computer coding with GD.
They work well as a threesome, both older children include and make allowances for the youngest cousin, and praise him when he does well.
I'm glad my GC have their local cousins. GD and GS2 have one other cousin in Greece, and GS1 has cousins in France and Ely. I have many cousins (over 20) but the nearest in age who lived locally was a boy 7 years older than me so I never had what my GC have.
The relationship is lovely to witness
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