For today’s iPhone Photo Phun linky over at A Belle, A Bean, & a Chicago Dog I’m uploading a photo I took with my iPhone over a year ago in Ella’s room. It’s one of my favorite action shots of my children.
They are not looking at the camera with smiles pasted obediently on their faces – they are inhabiting their “real” lives. At first glance it just looks like two sisters playing together – it could be titled, Dress Up:
But if you take a closer look, you’ll see that it’s really a portrait of what a big sister has to put up with when she has a little sister…look at the expression on Fiona’s face:
It could be titled, How A Big Sister Really Feels, Sometimes.
Like Ella, I had a big sister – I remember feeling like I’d rudely crashed the private party she had been having for three years with my parents, and that feeling permeated my relationship with her throughout our lives and is even there today.
For nearly three years, Fiona and I were two peas in a pod – I nursed her until she was 18 months, and she had my undivided attention. I was all hers.
So, with my two daughters, I sometimes find myself siding with Ella when they have spats – because as a little sister myself I know what it’s like, to be the younger one, the unwelcome interloper. I know it isn’t fair and at least I’m conscious of my bias, which comes out of my own birth order.
I can see how the oldest has to “put up with” the youngest, though, and unlike the second born, will always remember when it was just the two of us.
That’s funny. My sister is three years my junior and I don’t remember being the only at all. I do remember my mother always siding with her during fights, as my mother is also the youngest. But then, my father, who is the oldest, always sided with me. So really, there’s no winning. Parents are people…
Having two children myself, I can totally relate to this post. I know our son loves being a big brother, but he also has to put up with a little sister who, at two, pretty much always gets her way. We all have to continually adjust and adapt to a new family dynamic. I think being aware of both your daughter’s feelings means that you are fair, even though you may feel like you side more with your youngest.
Ha, LOVE the look on Fiona’s face
I think I have seen that look around here as well (from my son). The look on Ella’s face is also familiar, oh so familiar. I have to continuously remind myself that sibling relationship ups and downs are real and kids are people too (just as parents)
This is lovely! Your photos capture sibling-hood PERFECTLY, as do your words!
That photo is priceless. I have an older sister by 3 years, and I got favored a lot, but for different reasons. And now that I am a parent, it’s interesting seeing my 3.5 year old twins interact with their 19 month old sister.
There really is a story within such a simple photo. That expression is priceless!
LOVE the look, speaks volumes … poor thing!
My brother and I have a big gap – so we were like two only’s to a certain extent.
I was the third of four kids, and my two older brothers both had to put up with me following them around, and having a lot of fun at my expense! But they watched over me and protected me (whether they’d admit it or not).
I can’t wait to see how the dynamics of my four kids’ relationships evolve as they get older.
I love the pictures!
The candid shots are the best. My kids have the MOST fake fake smiles in the world, but they are exquisitely expressive when I catch them in the moment. Love your picture. Make sure you save it so you can use it at her wedding.
I’m an older sister and I’m pretty sure if my parents had smartphones then, they’d have captured the same expression on my face. When my younger sister (by 2 years) was a baby, I adored her. I was the 3rd child so I never knew what one-on-one time was with my parents anyway. As we grew older though, she got away with EVERYTHING and I didn’t. Hence the expression. Probably frequently.
However, now that we’re adults, I’m more protective of her than anything else. Fortunately.
I am older sister — by 3 years and if it’s any consolation she is now my best friend. Though we don’t live close, we see each other every 6 months or so..great pics.
This is so beautiful.
I love this special picture you’ve captured.
So I’m the oldest and often feel myself siding with the middle-man because I remember how awful I treated my little sister. I see what that must have felt like and try to make up for it by making middle-man feel better. Can we ever win?!? I did read though that 1st born get something like 3000 more hours with their parents then subsequent children. Explains a lot in my house anyway!
that’s beautiful. interesting to think about it from both sides. as an only child – never had to think about it. makes sense.
Awww… the woes of a second-child…
The grass is always greener on the other side, huh? I’m an only child and I hate it! Hahaha. I wish I had an older or younger sister, just so that my mother had somebody else to pick on!
Hugs to both Fiona and Ella! Hahaha Fiona’s expression was priceless!
Fiona’s expression is priceless. It says it all. And you are absolutely stunning!
I often remind my eldest that she was my first baby (emphasis on first). Then I remind my second that he was my first boy (emphasis on first). With my third I don’t need to emphasize anything because the world is at his feet.
Ha! Touche!
The first thing I saw was her eyes and expression! I was the baby so I knew it was all about me! My sisters and I are particularly close now…but we most definitely weren’t at that age!
I’m older than my sis by 3 years as well, and I don’t remember any time with my parents without her! She’s been the focus of their efforts for most of our adult lives though, and that kind of stings.
I LOVE this picture. It completely captures the essence of being a sibling!!
Such a great picture! I am the older sister so I’m sure I had that same look plenty of times after my sister was born. She is seven years younger than me. She always got away with everything, and my mother babied her so much. I always say she’s my mother’s favorite, and I’m my dad’s. I know they both love us equally.
Hahaha Fiona’s expression was priceless! as an only child – never had to think about it. I see what that must have felt like and try to make up for it by making middle-man feel better.
But they watched over me and protected me (whether they’d admit it or not). I did read though that 1st born get something like 3000 more hours with their parents then subsequent children.
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