You gotta have friends

I've been trying for 19 months now to convince Jake to be nice to Elauna. To play with Elauna.  To not run away screaming when Elauna enters the room. That it's good when Elauna comes to play because she's a darling child and he needs a good friend to play with.

At first when she was born (and Jake was 6 months old) he was interested in her but mad when I held her or paid attention to her. As they both got older, he was just annoyed that she played with his toys and monopolized my attention (picture is from July 2003, when he was 10 months and she was 4).

But in the last few weeks, a light bulb has come on in his head, and he's realized that what's I've been telling him all along is true: Elauna is a sweet little girl who is fun to play with. I think what's really brought this to light for Jake is that Zoe makes him crazy.

While Elauna is calm and happy and shares and very unselfish, Zoe is demanding and rough and stubborn and will take anything Jake has. If someone is eating, Zoe is there to mooch. She takes food right off Jake's tray. If Jake has a toy, she wants it. She grabs on to him with fistfulls of shirt in both hands and laughs gleefully as he tries to run away. In her mind they are playing and it's fun. And actually, she's a sweet little girl and I love her to pieces, but she makes Jake pretty mad the 4 days a week my mom watches her. Jake is finally old enough to make a comparitive analysis in his mind of the two, and Elauna comes out the clear winner.

Last Tuesday I picked Jake up and told him we were going to go visit Elauna. He walked over to Zoe and in a taunting voice said "Nah-na-na" (which is how he says "Elauna.") I almost fell over laughing -- he was rubbing it in that he was going to see Lana and that either Zoe couldn't come, or that he liked Lana better (I'm not sure which.) When we did get there, the kids just grinned at each other. It was so adorable. We have to drive by Priscilla's subdivision every day on the way home from my mom's, and every day now he looks over and says "Nah-na-na?" I tell him "Elauna's at her house and we're not going to see her today but maybe tomorrow, ok?" He just keeps saying her name over and over.

They came over on Friday night and we just hung out and watched TV and let the kids play (ok, Aowyn mostly ate and slept, but she's 3.5 weeks old), but Jake had such a good time. He didn't seem to take much interest in the baby, but he wasn't mad when I held her (and I LOVE holding her. She's so sweet and mellow for a newborn.) He and Lana played so nicely together -- I was shocked.

After they left and I was putting Jake to bed, he said "Nah-na-na?" And I said "Did we see Elauna tonight?" He said "yeah yeah." Silence. Then, "baby?" "Yes, we saw Elauna's baby tonight, too. She's pretty isn't she." "Yeah yeah." Another silence. "Nah-na-na?" "Jake, Lana and the baby had to go home, but we'll see them again soon." "Home?" "Yes, Jake, they went to their house, and we're going to stay here at our house and go to sleep. We'll see them later." Silence. Then "Nah-na-na?" At this point I gave up and told him to go to sleep.

Comments

[emily]

They are so cute!

[Sandi P.]

What a couple of cuties!

Sandi P.

[Jen A--Evelyn's Mommy]

While I know it shouldn't be funny, I love that Jake taunted Zoe w/ Elauna! Hahahaha. I know he isn't talking much yet, Jen, but there is obviously a lot going on in his head!

[Jen_Jake'smom]

JenA, I feel the same way! I thought it was hilarious. I do want him to be nice, but I'm glad he has a little fight in him. Zoe picks on him all day long and he's not allowed to retaliate. (uh-oh, he may turn out to be a smart-ass like me 'cause that's the only way to get even!) heh.

Jen

[Sue]

How sweet :) That is so funny that Jake keeps asking 'Nah-na-na'? Those two are destined to be together!!