Always Together

Oct 13

I wanted to have my children born close in age so that they would share a lot of the same experiences. Yes, one would be older and hopefully guide the younger one, but they would be in the same schools and be best friends.

Big brother smiling at little brother looking adoringly back. Both wear red fired chief hats. — One of my top five favorites. So much adoration and love for each other.

Nick and Stephen were born 2 years and 2 weeks apart. Nick definitely played the big brother role very well, translating Stephen’s baby talk, making him laugh, and saving him from rolling off the couch, even if Nick instigated it.

Baby in a highchair laughing while his big brother pretends to sip from his cup. — Always joking around to make his baby brother laugh!

They got their first Game Boys together, had joint birthday celebrations, practiced karate on the same night, built Legos, and often would be found cuddled on the couch watching Pokémon or Blues Clues or reading.

They were Buzz Lightyear and Woody the year one of the Toy Story movies came out.

They were always together—fighting, wrestling, and arguing included. It felt strange when Nick went to kindergarten. The boys sat together waiting for the bus and then . . . they were separated. New friends, different experiences, traveling different paths. Little brother missed his exuberant older brother, as did I.

Nick’s first day of kindergarten. Not sure if he’s scowling at the bus. They couldn’t sit close enough.

I have hundreds of photos of them arm-in-arm, head locked to armpit, piled on top of each other, hugging, snuggling, sleeping, fighting and loving one another as brothers do.

Brothers messing around on the grass. laughing. Both wearing blue. — 2001 birthday party

Sure it’s never enough, but when I look at these photos, I see love, trust, and a brotherly bond that time and space can never take away. I see two boys excited to venture into the world of school, sports, other friends; yet always dedicated to one another.

Brothers arm in arm smiling, dark hair. — Nick’s 10th birthday.

I see a big brother speaking up for his little bro just as much as he aggravated him. It went both ways but Oh, the Love that tied them together. Thicker and tighter than any knot.