Brotherly Love

Bear got angry the other day. Really angry. I have never seen him so angry in his whole life. He's 4, big feelings are pretty normal. Why he got angry is something that made me so incredibly proud of him.

We were on a play date at a friend's house. My friend has two children, I'll call them Emma and Jack. Emma is about 5 1/2 and Jack is nearly 4. Bear, Squirrel, Emma and Jack were headed to Emma's room to play. Jack was having a particularly bad day, and had it out for Squirrel. My friend and I were enjoying a nice cup tea in her living room when our tranquility was shattered. We heard Jack shout "No! No Squirrel you CAN'T come in Emma's room!" Squirrel shrieked and then Bear shouted "He can so. You stop it. You stop it now. He CAN come in. Don't you tell him that!"

My friend and I jumped up. I have never seen my Bear so beside himself with anger. His face was red. He was spitting while he screamed at Jack. I seriously thought that Bear, for the first time, would pound the crap out of another child. Bear then looked up at me and told me Jack had said that Squirrel was not allowed in Emma's room, and that Jack had pulled on Squirrel's shirt to keep him from entering the room.

My friend stepped in told Jack that yes, Bear was right. Squirrel was allowed to play in Emma's room. Emma, Bear and Squirrel, who was sporting a pair of pink sunglasses, entered Emma's room. Jack dragged his feet, sulking behind them. We hadn't even sat down when Bear shouted "Hey, don't take those from him! He had them first." I ran down the hall again, to find Bear taking the pair of pink sunglasses from Jack, and putting them on Squirrel's face. Squirrel beamed and threw his arms around his brother. Big brother sticking up for Little. It was one proud day for this Mama.