Best of Friends, Worst of Enemies – Still
Best of Friends, Worst of Enemies – Still
By Allan Olson
A few years back (approximately seven years ago), while I was in
college, I had an assignment to create a website. While I’ve
forgotten the exact term of the website, it was one that would lead a
person through multiple pages from multiple links. On my site, one of
the pages I wrote about my oldest son Nikolai and his cousin Michael,
who was only a few months older. The title of that page was “Best of
Friends, Worst of Enemies.”
These two boys are growing up together, at the same age, in the same
grade, with many of the same interests, and on every occasion they are
together there is bound to be a few hurt feelings among the many hours
of laughter.
For a time, these two cousins lived only a short distance apart, went
to the same daycare provider and played with the same toys while
there. They were seemingly never separated, and on more than one
occasion there was expected(?) destruction that followed.
In particular there was the incident that involved the two boys
clamoring for a better look at the fish tank on Nikolai’s dresser,
when they managed to pull the dresser down and the fish tank shattered
all over the floor. Neither was even scratched, although Nikolai was
somehow pinned beneath the dresser without actually being touched by
it.
We started out this summer by asking a niece to babysit and assist
with some now-past events. Michael asked if he could come for a few
days, too. After a short discussion, we decided “what’s one more
kid?” and so consented. Ultimately, our niece got called back to
work; unfortunately for us, our nieces are getting to the age where
work is more important than babysitting for their aunt and uncle.
Luckily for Michael, it meant he could stay longer.
For 11 days we listened to the two laugh and argue – sometimes only
seconds apart. They went to the Take a Kid Fishing event, Little
League, watched movies, played with Legos, went on geocache excursions
and competed to find the cache first, or to see who could get the most
foul balls at a recent baseball competition. Of course, they spent
time on the computer together, too. This is just a few of the things
they did during a very full 11 days.
The dynamic duo, as I referred to them back when they were still
infants only months apart, had several arguments over the course of
those 11 days. Most of them were petty, such as complaining that one
or the other wasn’t helping with chores, or that it was someone
else’s turn to do something.
Then, to spice things up, stir the other three siblings/cousins in
this house into the stew.
During dinner one day, Michael said, “If I could choose anyone to
come live with me, it would be Abi.”
Not at all offended, Nikolai said, “And if there could be two, it
would be me next.” Of course, Marcus and Alivia also chimed in, so
apparently we would have no kids left at home.
Then there were the occasional “boys only” moments; whether they
were intentional or not, they occurred. During some of those times,
Marcus seemed to create an aura that would cause yet another reason to
fight. Somehow, when the three of them were together alone, Marcus
would find a way to trip Nikolai’s trigger as only a sibling can do.
Only once during the three days did I need to completely separate
them. One of those days that was extremely long, and was preceded by a
similar day, and they were fighting. All three of them ended up in
different rooms taking much-needed naps.
The girls wanted Michael time, too, as he spoils them with piggyback
rides and makes them laugh. At meal times, it was almost always a
fight to sit by Michael. With chores, Michael was required to help,
but to keep the apple cart from upsetting too many times, we had him
assist with different chores with each of the kids.
When he wasn’t busy playing, he and his aunt learned how to make
biscotti and to modify the recipe to taste.
His final day here was Sunday. At an afternoon baseball game there
were plenty of races for the foul balls, and soon Marcus and Alivia
were bummed that Michael was getting them all. Abigail couldn’t care
less; she was in her own world.
We hadn’t been home 30 minutes and they were fighting again about
something, and then they were laughing about something else. Soon
after that we got “the phone call” and we headed off to meet his
ride home.
On the way to our destination, the boys laughed and talked some more,
and Michael flashed forward seven years and talked about driving to
our place by himself.
On the way home, Nikolai was sad. His best friend (and his sometimes
enemy) was gone again. He was largely quiet on the way home, already
missing his partner. It wold not be long before he would be asking
when they could see each other again.
Please be safe on the lakes this weekend – wear your life jacket,
keep the kids safe, and remember to take a picture to preserve a
lifetime memory.
Thanks for reading, and have a great week. For more of my columns
visit: http://allan-crazykids.blogspot.com.
By Allan Olson
A few years back (approximately seven years ago), while I was in
college, I had an assignment to create a website. While I’ve
forgotten the exact term of the website, it was one that would lead a
person through multiple pages from multiple links. On my site, one of
the pages I wrote about my oldest son Nikolai and his cousin Michael,
who was only a few months older. The title of that page was “Best of
Friends, Worst of Enemies.”
These two boys are growing up together, at the same age, in the same
grade, with many of the same interests, and on every occasion they are
together there is bound to be a few hurt feelings among the many hours
of laughter.
For a time, these two cousins lived only a short distance apart, went
to the same daycare provider and played with the same toys while
there. They were seemingly never separated, and on more than one
occasion there was expected(?) destruction that followed.
In particular there was the incident that involved the two boys
clamoring for a better look at the fish tank on Nikolai’s dresser,
when they managed to pull the dresser down and the fish tank shattered
all over the floor. Neither was even scratched, although Nikolai was
somehow pinned beneath the dresser without actually being touched by
it.
We started out this summer by asking a niece to babysit and assist
with some now-past events. Michael asked if he could come for a few
days, too. After a short discussion, we decided “what’s one more
kid?” and so consented. Ultimately, our niece got called back to
work; unfortunately for us, our nieces are getting to the age where
work is more important than babysitting for their aunt and uncle.
Luckily for Michael, it meant he could stay longer.
For 11 days we listened to the two laugh and argue – sometimes only
seconds apart. They went to the Take a Kid Fishing event, Little
League, watched movies, played with Legos, went on geocache excursions
and competed to find the cache first, or to see who could get the most
foul balls at a recent baseball competition. Of course, they spent
time on the computer together, too. This is just a few of the things
they did during a very full 11 days.
The dynamic duo, as I referred to them back when they were still
infants only months apart, had several arguments over the course of
those 11 days. Most of them were petty, such as complaining that one
or the other wasn’t helping with chores, or that it was someone
else’s turn to do something.
Then, to spice things up, stir the other three siblings/cousins in
this house into the stew.
During dinner one day, Michael said, “If I could choose anyone to
come live with me, it would be Abi.”
Not at all offended, Nikolai said, “And if there could be two, it
would be me next.” Of course, Marcus and Alivia also chimed in, so
apparently we would have no kids left at home.
Then there were the occasional “boys only” moments; whether they
were intentional or not, they occurred. During some of those times,
Marcus seemed to create an aura that would cause yet another reason to
fight. Somehow, when the three of them were together alone, Marcus
would find a way to trip Nikolai’s trigger as only a sibling can do.
Only once during the three days did I need to completely separate
them. One of those days that was extremely long, and was preceded by a
similar day, and they were fighting. All three of them ended up in
different rooms taking much-needed naps.
The girls wanted Michael time, too, as he spoils them with piggyback
rides and makes them laugh. At meal times, it was almost always a
fight to sit by Michael. With chores, Michael was required to help,
but to keep the apple cart from upsetting too many times, we had him
assist with different chores with each of the kids.
When he wasn’t busy playing, he and his aunt learned how to make
biscotti and to modify the recipe to taste.
His final day here was Sunday. At an afternoon baseball game there
were plenty of races for the foul balls, and soon Marcus and Alivia
were bummed that Michael was getting them all. Abigail couldn’t care
less; she was in her own world.
We hadn’t been home 30 minutes and they were fighting again about
something, and then they were laughing about something else. Soon
after that we got “the phone call” and we headed off to meet his
ride home.
On the way to our destination, the boys laughed and talked some more,
and Michael flashed forward seven years and talked about driving to
our place by himself.
On the way home, Nikolai was sad. His best friend (and his sometimes
enemy) was gone again. He was largely quiet on the way home, already
missing his partner. It wold not be long before he would be asking
when they could see each other again.
Please be safe on the lakes this weekend – wear your life jacket,
keep the kids safe, and remember to take a picture to preserve a
lifetime memory.
Thanks for reading, and have a great week. For more of my columns
visit: http://allan-crazykids.blogspot.com.
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