How many of us still keep in touch with our friends from Kindergarten? What about Primary school? High school?
I can honestly say that from Kindergarten, other than Mrs. Hollarin (my teacher), a boy named Dan and a girl named Jennifer, I don’t remember anyone else. As for Elementary school friends, I have only kept in touch with a few friends that I have gone onto high school with. Otherwise, I have lost touch with most of them. In fact, my Elementary school has closed down due to budget cuts and school closures in San Francisco so I couldn’t go back to enquire even if I wanted to.
Hannah adored her brother ever since he was a baby.
But I do have a few best friends that will always remain my best friends for life. I have known them since birth. Although, now that I live in Hong Kong, I only see them once every few years, I know that I can count on them – always!! They are my brother and two sisters. I hope Hannah and Jonah will appreciate each other as I have always appreciated my own siblings. I encourage them to see each other as teammates and partners in whatever they do. Not only are they playmates for each other, they are also each other’s study partners, cheerleaders, teachers, and at times, competitors. But most importantly, they are best friends.
Best friends like to dress alike.
One way to enforce this bond is to never play favorites. I never ask Hannah to let Jonah have more, to have a first turn, to play longer, just because she is the elder sister. Another common practice in our family is to share. They share chores, share responsibilities and sometimes, share punishments. So instead of competing with each other, they will often encourage, remind and help each other. They are a team!
Hannah and Jonah have an unbreakable bond.
So in the end, it doesn’t really matter to them who has the bigger piece of cake, who gets to shower last, who gets to play first - because they are best friends.
