I work in a middle school and there is no doubt if memory serves me right that at that age it was all about ME! And on a day to day basis I see that is how it is with kids that age. (Okay, some people never out grow that but that is another story)
I also work in life skills which some people view as a different world but I gotta tell you, they are all about themselves too. My "boy" truly believes the world revolves around his little deaf life and it is his way or the highway. He has a housefull of siblings and I imagine on any given day it is like WWF because he comes in with the bruises and scratches to prove it. (And he may be small but he is mighty)
So recently I am shopping with this little self centered ego maniac boy and he is looking at cars. I sign and ask him which one he likes and he hands me the one he liked and I explain he does have enough money. And then he looks at me and signs "No, for my brother" (His brother who was in the hospital. Earlier in the week I had to explain that his brother was not in the hospital because he had choked him but because his appendicts was bad and please don't choke your brother again) And there I am in the Meijer toy aisle crying.
It reminded me of my family. We are not kissy feely people. Growing up there was chaos, being pulled by my hair through the house, food fights and fist fights, stealing each other's clothes and according to my younger brother an occasional car. Once I walked into the kitchen and one brother's girlfriend was on my other brother's back beating him over the head with a frying pan..yeah, it was that crazy. (We tried to tone it down when my parents were home but more than once I remember my Mom trying to rein in the madness)
But through it all, we loved each other. Don't mess with my family. And we still argue but are too old and fat for a real brawl so the words fly back and forth. And we laugh a lot. And we are proof that fighters can be lovers too. (But you might want to hide the frying pans if we visit)
