Poetic Justice

I find the dynamics between my three children very interesting.  Sarah and Amanda love each other, it's as simple as that.  Occasionally one of them will be in a mood and be nasty or antagonistic towards the other, but the majority of the time they are the best of friends.  I love that about them.  Andy is the one who throws a wrench into the whole situation.

From the moment Sarah was born, Andy didn't like her.  He has said since he was about four that she ruined his life by being born.  He seems to remember that he had it pretty good before then.  I'm not sure how Amanda doesn't factor into the equation when he mentions all of this, because she would have ruined his life eventually as well, but I guess she's so much younger that he doesn't think about her that way.

Sarah has always craved Andy's approval, but he very rarely gives it.  On the other hand, he loves Amanda.  In fact, he is always craving her approval, but she rarely gives it to him.  So to sum it up, Andy doesn't really like Sarah but loves Amanda, Amanda doesn't really care for Andy but loves Sarah, and Sarah tries to dislike Andy but secretly worships him and she loves Amanda to pieces.

Because Andy likes Amanda so much, he's always asking her for hugs.  90% of the time she says no.  He's a little overbearing and doesn't understand why she won't hug him.  We've tried to explain that he just needs to back off and she'll be more open to it, but he just can't do it.  Today we were in the car and Andy decided he was going to tackle the issue head on.

Andy:  Amanda, why don't you like me?

Amanda:  I don't like Andy, I like Sarah.

Andy:  I know.  WHY don't you like me?

Amanda:  I don't like Andy.

Andy:  We know you don't like me, but why don't you like me?

Amanda:  I don't like you Andy, I like Sarah.

This went on for at least five minutes when I finally told Andy that Amanda just couldn't comprehend what he was asking her.  She didn't know how to answer his question.  I tried to tell him that she probably didn't like him because he was mean to Sarah, but I'm not sure he bought it.  He was so frustrated and I was just giggling to myself in the front seat, trying to stay out of it.

In the end he never got an answer other than Amanda doesn't like him.  Of course she does, but she likes Sarah better and she doesn't know how to explain that.  All I know is that he kind of deserves it, and if he was a little nicer to Sarah then Amanda probably would like him more.

A tough lesson to learn, but who better to teach you than an innocent little girl that you are desperately in love with?