Just wrote a friend, and thought I'd share the narrative about our kids

...The kdis seem so extreme.  One minute, Christopher and Natalie are getting the washcloths out of the closet and carrying them around in bins or making crazy animal noises with their tongues hanging out  (don't ask, because I don't know), and the next minute, Christopher is cleaning up a trail of a mess made while carrying in the car mat that is holding the strawberry smoothie that didn't stay in the cup while we were catching dinner on the run while driving home late from taking Daddy to the Esperanza board meeting so we could see him before he flies to Seattle tomorrow...  Truly, Chrisotpher cleaned the whole thing up--and did a good job, too.   The other day I got a parking ticket, and he put a bunch of coins by my bed to make me feel better (I think to help pay for it).

Natalie played so patiently with Christopher today--there were 100 mathlink cubes he had chosen to play with, and he gave her about 25 to play with.  She asked for the pink ones nicely, twice, and got "No thank-you".  Then she tried to trade with him... Again, "No thank-you".  Then she continued playing happily, and finally observed, without any trace of discontent, "He has a lot, and I only have a little."  I sat down with her, and played with her, and praised her for being content and not demanding that he share more and more.  She said, "I'm holding in my scweeches!"  

I also discussed with her how it feels when someone is not sharing equitably...and what she might do when she is in charge of a toy.  Suddenly, Christopher began dumping more cubes in her space.  She was so happy she gave him some more.  It was a beautiful moment...

Love,
Lori