Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

Anya is now nine years old.

And her younger brother, Vai, is turning seven, in less than two months.

As their Mom, I must say they don’t always get along with each other. Just like most other siblings whose age gap is not that big.

(Read: The sister actually feels the brother annoys her a lot =)

But then again, I guess THAT is the beauty of having siblings?

I mean, when there’s another child (or two, or three) at your home, you are automatically trained to :

… share and care, whether you like it or not.
‘If you can’t care for your own brother and sister, how can you even start to care about others outside the family?‘ is what I often say to the kiddos.

… look after each other, even when you don’t feel like to.
‘Go and accompany your brother/sister, to make sure he/she is safe. Two is better than one, and he/she’d do the same to you.‘, is another phrase I often say to the kids, if any of them is reluctant to step away from their comfort zone to help a sibling.

… apply what your parents teach you, on a daily basis.
‘Control your tone of voice, please‘, I’d remind them. And, having siblings around does make such a ‘training of the heart’ very real.

Well anyway.

I can’t think of anything ‘negative’ about having a sibling or two at home.

And to end the post, I’d like to share this quote with you :

‘You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.’
– Desmond Tutu

…

Indeed, family is God’s gift to us.