Big kids

Veronica has long been obsessed with the idea of being a big kid. For the longest time, if we called her a girl, she would reply, “I not a girl. I a big kid.” Now she understands that she can be both, but she is very proud of not being a baby any longer. 

Colin has just come to the big kid party recently, but now he often joins in the chorus, informing us that “Colin a big kid, Mommy” at random times throughout the day. He too is becoming more self aware, and realizes that being a big kid comes with privileges that babies and little kids don’t get. 

Veronica now is taking it one step farther: she has become aware of the size difference between her and Colin (and, to be honest, probably the developmental difference too, since she is further along the path than him in many areas). The other day, when they were out walking, Ethan was “balance walking” along something that John didn’t think the twins were ready to tackle. He told Veronica it was okay for Ethan to do because Ethan was bigger. Veronica promptly said, “I’m bigger than Colin, so I do it too.” 

So now we have to be careful to make the distinction that Ethan gets to do things because he is older, not because he is bigger.

Veronica already treats Colin like her little brother, mothering him and yelling at him when he is doing something wrong. (“Time out Colin. Time out!” “Clean up toys Colin. Clean up.”) That’s more a function of her natural bossiness, a trait she shares with Ethan (poor Colin, he has four people bossing him around every day), but we want to be sure she realizes that she and Colin are the same age. Otherwise, I am sure that will cause problems down the road.