Twenty-six years ago, I became a Big Sister to an 11-year old girl named Sarah. It was one of the best decisions of my life. She’s the sweetest person you could ever meet and I’m constantly amazed by her resilience and strength. We haven’t lived in the same city since she moved away from Ottawa just after Nick was born, but we’ve visited each other in Vancouver, Peterborough, Oshawa and Ottawa, and we chat regularly. Moving to Brighton meant we’d be only an hour apart, but the pandemic prevented us from seeing each other.
Sarah is now a wonderful, loving mom to 3-year old April and they came to stay with us for a few days this week.
We went to the beach, the playground and the petting zoo, but her favourite things to do were playing fetch with Juno and walking around our neighbourhood making friends with the dogs. “I can pat doggie?”
She also liked following Ray – who she called ‘poppa’ for some reason – around the yard. “Whatchoodoeen?” “I can help?” “I helping you!”
On the last day of their visit, Ray was up before the sun because he was driving to the cottage for a few days to help Rob build a shed. I heard him moving around in the kitchen and then the pitter-patter of little feet. “Whatchoodoeen?” It’s hard to believe I used to get up at 5:30 every morning when I was working. I’m well out of practice.
Having an active toddler around reminded me of the days when eating a meal while it’s still hot, finishing a complete thought, or having an uninterrupted shower were major accomplishments. Nick was less active and had a much longer attention span than April does, so I can’t imagine how exhausting it must be for Sarah. I was worn out after just a couple of days. It’s easy after your kids are grown to recognize that the years are short and go by so quickly, but when you’re in the midst of it, the days are long and you’re tired all the time. That’s the advantage of being an ‘auntie’ or a grandparent I guess. We have that perspective but can also enjoy the time spent with them in smaller doses and then sleep when they’re gone.
She didn’t seem particularly enthusiastic about that idea.
Sarah and I didn’t get much time to chat, what with all the trying to keep track of the little dervish. But then my sister arrived, like Mary Poppins and Santa Claus all rolled into one, with bags of toys and clothes and a gingerbread house and a dog (the dog wasn’t in a bag). She kept April entertained while Sarah and I chatted in the gazebo.
After making the 2-hour drive here, Karen drove Sarah and April back to Oshawa (an hour back in the direction she’d come), then we came back here and she made me dinner. The next day we did crosswords and drank tea and went out for lunch and chatted and laughed. Sisters are the best (even if they do sometimes make us eat so much sugar we want to throw up, and pick movies with stupid endings).
It’s very true that the days are long and the years are short and so hard to realize how fast the years go when you’re in the middle of them. Sarah does a great job and her resilience and fortitude amaze me too. And she gives REALLY great hugs! 😁
You have been a great big sister to her and you’re not a bad little sister either. 😉
While I like the combination, I wish I looked a bit more like Mary Poppins and a little less like Santa Claus! 🤶🏻
You’ve clearly been an important part of Sarah’s life!
And vice versa!