Two and a half years ago we sat down with Wilson and explained he was going to be a big brother.  He was 3 1/2.  He didn't say anything for a while and then said "Why did you do this to me?"  I told him Mommy and Daddy weren't going to be around forever and we wanted him to grow up with someone so that when we were gone, a long, long, long time from now, we didn't want him to be lonely.  He said "I wasn't lonely, but now I'm mad."

Two years ago we discovered we were having a little girl.  We told Wilson in a few weeks he was going to have a baby sister.  He burst into tears in the backseat of the car and said "That's exactly what I didn't want!"

Since then he's proven himself a very loving, very doting, very patient big brother to a pesky little sister.  There are times when I admire his patience with the nearly 2 year old Gigi, long after my own patience with her has taken off and left no forwarding address.  She is so much fun.  She's a handful, but she's so full of life and energy that she draws people to her.  She gave herself the name "Gigi" - I've often wondered who gets away with creating their own nickname, now I know.

Tonight Gigi started in as soon as we picked Will up after school.  She spilled his candy treat from the grocery store on the ground.  She spilled his drink in his supper.  She turned off his video game while he was playing it.  She tore up an art project from school.  She whacked him on the head with her broom.  She took his GI Joe dolls and has them held captive in her dollhouse. 

He only shrugs and goes about his business - which she usually gets into as soon as he's found something else to do and someplace else to be.  I admired him.  Most big brothers would have whacked her back long before now.  He never got angry.  He never got frustrated.  He just keeps on.  I was so proud of him.  Inspiration in my son.

During their bath I stepped out to get some towels.  I could hear Gigi making the bath a terrible experience for Will.  She took all of the bath toys.  She hoarded the soap.  She whacked him with a wet washcloth.  Then she said "Where'd Mommy go?"

"Mommy ran away.  Mommy ran away because you're evil and mean.  Mommy is never coming back.  She's gone.  Mommy ran away."

I ran into the bathroom.

"Wilson!  That is terrible!  You shouldn't tell her things like that!"

I picked up the girl and dried her off.  Will took his towel and dried himself.  He didn't say anything.

"Wilson, that is the most terrible thing!"

He shook his head.

"No, it's not.  You want to know what the most terrible thing is?"

"What could be worse than telling your sister I ran away and wasn't ever coming back?!"

"She didn't even care."

And with that he walked out.