Big sister = little mother

Big G is older to lil G by less than 3 years, but most of the times takes such good care of her sister. After the initial jealousy and possessiveness of sharing her parents and life with the new arrival wore off, which took a good year and still appears now and then, Big G has taken over the role of a surrogate parent to her lil S. I see it so often and it fills my heart with joy.

I love the way she grips lil G's hand tight while I am locking the door. We stay on a mezzanine floor and the gaps on the railing are wide for a small baby to slip through. Then the way she shows off her sister in school when we go to pick her up. Kijk, daar is mijn zusje (look, there is my little sister) she announces to anyone who cares to look. On the way back home, lil G has had enough of being pushed around in the pram and assertively demands - walk, walk!! So on the road home, Big G is supervising lil G and ensuring she does not stray from the sidewalk and does not pluck put flowers from the gardens, promising flowers when we get home! They are such a sight to behold, the conscientious big sister and the independent minded little one who hates her hand to be held, sauntering along to her own tune....

When I put them both inside home and run outside to lug the pram over the steps, I come back to see lil G without her sweater and jacket, courtesy her big sister. She feels hot, so i done it, says big G.

Bathtimes are bonding times too. Both love to be in the bath tub together, playing with an assortment of toys. I take the lil one out first to get her dressed. Big G is always very mindful of how the lil one is dressed. I am not sure what to make of this sometimes.

Bedtime is actually my favorite time with them. Of late lil G wants to listen to one and only story as soon as her head touches the pillow. Bumba, she says. So I am repeating Bumba for her twice a day. And now she's always supplying the last word in every sentence. The silly Bumba story, says big G. And for big G there are various possibilities and demands - sometimes Rapunzel, or the Panchatantra tales, how the caterpillar changes into butterfly or even a story from my head :)

Big G will share her stuff with lil G upto a point now a days. When lil G who is a rogue sometimes hits out at her sister for no reason and I get angry and tell her to be sorry, big G says, its ok mama, let her not say sorry. And gives her a hug.
Recently, I have noticed they play a game called Miaow. It's funny and I'm keeping the camera handy to make a video.

When both parents are angry with lil G, she seeks out her Bena, as she calls her elder sister. Big G puts a solicitous arm around her and distracts her, enjoying the opportunity to play senior. It is she who interprets lil G's garbled vocabulary to her father when I am not around.

I think I am lucky to have two such lovely daughters and love to see them together. Touchwood!!