Saturday, April 17, 2010

Siblings - the bond goes deeper

Both my sons, who have an age gap of two years, have been the best of buddies most of the times, co-conspirators in all the pranks that they have played many a times and also the worst of the enemies. This depends on situations prevailing at that particular time. Those who have siblings will understand this.

From past twelve years since my younger son was born, they have been like conjoined twins. They have always gone to the same schools, they have travelled together in the same school bus, have been taken on outings together, have had the same set of friends outside of school. Within school they both know each others' friends too! Even when they joined some of the hobby classes we would prefer enrolling them into the same activity or even if it was a different activity it would be within the same premises. In short, they have been together almost all the time.

But this summer vacation we decided it was high time they took a break from each other and get to experience this phase of life too. We decided to pack our younger son to my sister's place in another city. My elder son had summer classes to attend to. We thought this would give both of them some breathing space. When we told both of them about this plan, my younger one said that it would be a good thing as he thought that his brother had been troubling him a lot of late. The elder one said he could now enjoy some peaceful times without his younger brother bothering him all the time.

The D-Day arrived and my younger one left. For about an hour my elder one went out swimming with his friends, played and came back home. After sometime we heard him talking over the phone to his brother. That night it self he started telling us that he was feeling bored, he did not know what to do, there was no one to play with. Within three hours of separation we knew that he was already missing his brother!!

Several calls happened to and fro (I am sure this time I will be given a huge telephone bill) between the brothers and is still happening. In fact my sister told me that my younger son was not his usual exuberant self. After spending the first day there, my younger one called me and asked me as to when I would be coming to pick him up and I asked him why he was asking? He said "Mamma - I am missing Anna (elder brother) a lot".

That sentence brought tears into my eyes. Well what more could I ask? I felt siblings might fight, be cross with each other, irritated with each other but above all there is this great connection between them. Despite all those arguments, they share a very strong bond with each other. I felt such would be their love that in their later years of life they both will have each other to fall back on during all times. Who better to understand your problems and to share your special moments and could be your best friend for a life time than your very own brother or sister?

7 comments:

FinSecAdvisor said...

Guess, after being together for so many years, they found the REAL value of each other during this brief period of separation......am sure they will be much more closer now on, its a good foundation for a much stronger bonding in the years to come....I wish both of them and both of you the very best!

shobhana shenoy said...

Thanks Nirguna Nirakara,
True.The relationship between siblings is always like this. They can't do without each other. When together they have lots to share as well as fight for.That makes the relationship all the more special.

Anonymous said...

hey shobana...i feel the same way with my kids tho they dont share the same friends and activities since they r a boy n a girl....but the "fights"...i can definitely relate to...:-)wish they wud become just as close..
Namrata..

shobhana shenoy said...

Hi Namrata,
Thanks for your comments.Given the difference in interests and activities you will see that both do share a togetherness. May not show it openly.Might get to see when one of them gets hurt or scolded.Age difference also plays a vital role.

Ravishankar said...

Hope they continue to be the same for years... ATB...

shobhana shenoy said...

Thanks for your comment Ravishankar. I guess as parents we would always wish for this bonding to last forever through all the ups and downs in one's lifetime isn't it?

Ravishankar said...

yup:-)