A brother is a friend given by nature

Truer words could not be spoken.  My two kids have been friends, right from the start.  When we brought Riley home from the hospital, Jamie was instantly in love.

I’d been trying to teach him how to “help” Mommy with the new baby for months.  He even had his own baby doll to play with.  Mostly he held her around the neck and looked at her.  I wasn’t too worried that he would do that to Riley, as I would never let him play with her unsupervised.

We pretended to feed, burp, and diaper the baby doll.  We would rock her to sleep.  I felt that Jamie was ready to be a big brother.  Jamie was even in the delivery room with us, right up until push time.  He was on his way home to bed by the time his little sister came into the world at 8:42 pm.  The next day, they finally met.  I was a little concerned how Jamie would react since he’d been the only child for 5 years.  And as you know, an only child who also has special needs could really feel left out with the addition of a new baby.  Jamie came rolling in in his wheelchair (he uses it for long distances) and I was sitting in the rocking chair with Riley in my arms.  He rolled up next to me and I gave him a big hug and high five.  I introduced him to his sister, and his eyes were so big and full of love.  I was on cloud 9.  I couldn’t have been happier!

A brother is a friend given by nature~ Legouve

Riley and I went home the next day from the hospital and Jamie was waiting for us at the front door.  I got down on the floor with both kids, and let Jamie look at her, and touch her.  When she started crying, he “cried” back at her.  That was the beginning of their friendship.

Riley is now 4 and Jamie is 9.  Jamie is still non-verbal, but he’s making sounds and signs.  When there’s something he’s saying or signing that we don’t understand, Riley will “interpret” for us.  “I think he wants a movie, Mom.”  or my favorite, “I think he wants you to play Barbies with me, Mom”.   Just seeing these two together, you can see the love they share.  Riley is always patient with Jamie.  Jamie loves to play with Riley’s long hair, and she lets him.  She always shares her toys with Jamie.  Most of all, she helps me.  She does things like keeping her toys that are too small for Jamie to play with out of his reach.  She keeps an eye on him when I have to run to the bathroom or let the dog out.  Riley even reads her books to him.  She is the best little sister Jamie could ever have.  Funny thing is, she’s kind of his big sister except in age.

Riley and Jamie have the kind of friendship a lot of siblings don’t have.  While they couldn’t be more different from each other, there is mutual love and patience there.  Jamie is the quiet, laid back, easy going one.  Riley is the fiery, outspoken, active one.  They are the yin yang of our lives.  Riley will always have her best friend; and Jamie will always have his “big sister” looking out for him.