Everything I've Learned Is Useless

The third time it happened, I knew. This "opposites" thing that is happening with the daughters born eight years apart is going to be that something that pushes my everything.

The Big Kid follows rules, almost to a fault. I mean, it will be a fault in a few more years, but right now it's pretty freakin' fantastic. She can't break rules. She's programmed that way. For example, she accepted AS A BABY that she wasn't allowed to open kitchen cabinets. She still today asks permission half the time.

She's just as crazed about every other rule under the sun. She does her homework without being told, she can't lie, and she rarely gets into anything that even sort of resembles trouble.

I'm not sure if Mila will be the opposite when it comes to rules, but I'm buying 23523423 rolls of duct tape just in case.

What I do know for a fact is that Mila is Alexis' opposite when it comes to The Feels thing. Alexis feels for other people at a level that can best be described as ZOMG. It's fantastic and wonderful but it's also terrible and no good.

For example, there was a news story about three years ago about a baby that was stolen from Magee Hospital. Alexis still asks about that baby. She wants to know if he's okay, if the person who stole him was punished appropriately (but not too harshly!) and is the mom okay? She really hopes the mom is okay. Tears have been shed over that baby many, many times.

Every day The Feels get in the way of Alexis enjoying life. She's learning to channel it in healthy ways, but it's still A Thing.

And then there is Mila.

Mila is the dear, sweet, spunky child who laughed and laughed and laughed until tears were running down her face this weekend. We were at a birthday party at a roller skating rink. As Alexis and her friends slowly rolled around in circles, Mila and I stood by watching. Each time someone fell, Mila laughed.

And laughed.

People falling is the funniest thing that has ever happened as far as she is concerned.

I think I might need more duct tape.

Comments

[Molly]

Oh god, Alexis and I are totally kindred spirits. I am a rule follower. Hardcore. We always knew Christmas presents were in mom and dad's closet and NEVER looked. Because the rule was "don't peek" so we didn't.