Sleeping with Speedy

So...Sleeping with siblings has its own unique joy.

You end up talking nineteen to the dozen with them. Telling stories, sharing experiences, giving advice, tickling them, kicking them and finally falling asleep in each other's arms. All through the night you will tussle for the sheets or end up sleeping on top of each other or even diagonally across each other. At night anything goes :)

Of course, this is not true for all of us. Some of us can't stand our siblings, let alone share a bed with them. Some of us don't hug or kiss them...at all (Age being immaterial).

We've never had that issue. We won't think twice before a hug and a kiss, irrespective of where we are, whom we are with, in public or private, irrespective of our age and the salt and pepper hair :)

We met Speedy after a long long time. Princess adores her younger sibling. Doesn't talk about him much when he's away and you wouldn't ever get that impression while talking to her. But she does.

I think it's true for her youngest sibling too...but i haven't seen it in action.

We were driving up to Bombay and stopped by a Mac to get some food. She, of course, picked a happy meal and for a change got two toys with it. In the car, she looked the toys over. I wasn't really paying attention to her and concentrating on the traffic. Suddenly she says - this one is bad. And my ears perk up. Then she says...i won't give this to Speedy.

Now, let's be clear. She's all of 11. She's fiercely independent. She's possessive. She doesn't share (coz she never had to...she hides chocolates that come home, coz she doesn't want to share them with me !)

I'm driving and i'm now thinking. What just happened ?

She's going to give a toy to Speedy. Not share. Give.

So, I ask her. What's wrong with that toy ? She explains why it's bad and hence it doesn't deserve to go to Speedy. The other, nicer toy will go to Speedy. The process of elimination was clear in her mind. The better one had to be given away.

I say okay. I'm happy. Happy that something changed. Happy that she was willing to share or even give the toy away.

She met him later that afternoon and promptly gave the toy for him to play with.

For me, this was a HUGE leap for my Princess. One that I had hoped for and resigned myself to, that it may not come all that easily for her to do.

The both of them spent time playing and having fun. I watched and smiled.

It's good to see siblings together.

Anyway, the day passed. Dinner and then time to sleep.

Speedy was already asleep.

Princess spent time with my sisters and they enjoyed doing random stuff. I was exhausted and conked off also.

Now, it's also important to understand that she likes to sleep by herself. Alone. Almost always. She's been sleeping by herself for a long time now (years). She needs the space and doesn't hesitate to kick me out of her bed just so that she can be comfortable.

Anyway...Speedy was sleeping next to his mom with Princess on the other side. Now, Speedy likes to roam the world while he sleeps. He's all of 3 years old and he takes off exploring the bed at night. He'll even sleep sitting up. I woke up at night and he was fast asleep while sitting :) I love that kid !

Sometime during the night, Speedy managed to get next to Princess. I'm sure that she hugged him tightly and slept.

In the morning, i wake up and i see Princess being used as a pillow and him happily fast asleep. She's awake but not moving...so as not to awaken him. She's being considerate of her younger sibling :) She never shows me the same consideration !

I love him for sleeping all over his sister and I love her for letting him !!!