Take your Baby by the hand

Sometimes, I get so used to the chaos and commotion and constant wrestling and fighting that I forgot how kind and gentle they can be.
Getting out of the car today, The Baby was distressed because he had taken off one shoe and couldn’t reach it. I parked the car and reminded him he had to grab it before he got out. As I was talking, The Middle One (his typically abusive big brother) gave me an, “I already got it” and jumped out of his booster. When I turned around, I saw my gentle giant helping out his baby brother in the kindest way. It wasn’t so much the act of helping him put on his shoe, it was what I overheard.
The Middle One was reassuring Baby that he would hurry and get his shoe on and then help him out of his seat. He then grabbed the Baby by the hand and helped coach him out of the car by telling Baby that he needed a “big jump” and Middle One was, “so sure you can do it big guy”.
I stood by with nothing to do but stare in awe as it all unfolded. I nearly fell over when The Middle One let The Baby win the race back to the front door and then celebrated his first place victory. This NEVER happens. Even when Baby does win, T.M.O usually finds a reason to challenge the results. Competition is a daily meal around here.
These brothers, who spend most of their days fighting and yelling at each other are actually quite fond of one another. The Big Brother who mostly relishes in showing that he is bigger, stronger, smarter took this morning to also show he was helpful and sweet.
Having three kids so close can be trying and exhausting and makes me question my sanity on a daily basis. But having three kids so close can also make for moments where they are so close. And those moments, the ones that-no matter how frequent-always take my breathe away, those make the rest of it all worthwhile.