Of Earlobes and Fingertips

Dumpling and Cuddlebug couldn't be more different in the most practical ways. Watching them live, love, play and "negotiate" makes me think a different way about the scripture that tells us a sibling is born for adversity but a friend loveth at all times. Could it possibly be that the scripture is really acknowledging that siblings live together and learn the ways of "socialization" from one another, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, whereas friends have the freedom to be fair-weathered -- thereby "loving at all times," but only for as long as the times last? That's not as much a conclusion as it is still a question. Anyway...

These two girls that God has ordained as siblings and playmates are very different. Dumpling is more of a "loner;" she can play by herself as long as she has a few props, for long stretches of time. And while she appreciates a hug and the occasional back-scratch, she's the baby who didn't want to be rocked. Just put her in the crib and leave her alone! If she could have talked, she would have said, "Don't touch me."

Okay then!

That's why I call her my grace baby. She was comparatively easy most of the time.

Cuddlebug, on the other hand, desires companionship almost all the time. In fact, when she's happy to be alone behind a closed door for any period of time at all, I know there is mischief happening! She's also my most touchy-feely child. She is always cuddling into the crook, or stroking the arm of the nearest loved one.

These two opposites share a bed. It makes for some funny exchanges.

Once, Husband and I heard this discussion after we turned out the light and proceeded down the hallway:

D: Cuddlebug, don't put your feet on me. It doesn't feel good.

C: Dumpling...it feels good to me-ee!

It's nights like those that Teddy comes to the rescue, but more often than not, Dumpling adapts, as was obvious in tonight's bedtime prayer by Cuddlebug:

"Ahder in eavn, sank you fo dis day. An sank you fo...(here she says something nice about each of us, though too often the praise starts with the adjective, "squishy")...and sank you fo Dumpling's squishy ear fo me to hode in da mornin' while I suck my thum."

I'm sure it takes a little bit of "prefering one another" for Dumpling to let Cuddlebug man-handle her every morning, and I love her for it.

On the other hand...

Dumpling came in from playing outside this afternoon to show me her shredded fingertips. They got that way by scratching at oak bark, trying to gather some aside for the winter. She complained that they were all scratched up.

I told her they would heal.

She said they hurt.

I told her to stop doing that then.

She whined that she needed the bark!

I suggested she make a tool for getting the bark off the tree trunk.

She said she couldn't make a tool.

I explained that it didn't have to be a tool like Daddy buys at Home Depot, and encouraged her that she was a clever girl and would think of something.

She wondered, "Toes? Should I use my toes?"

"No. Your toes won't work."

"Cuddlebug's fingers then?"