My poor children, with a clinical psychologist for a mother. I am constantly marvelling at their various personalities considering they share 50% of their genes and are growing up in the same household together. In some ways they could not be more different!
Here's an example.
Last week in the shower, George suddenly started screaming and shrieking. "my leg, my leg, I have a booboo!" He could hardly stand and was contorting in wild positions to try to prevent water from getting on his knee. All but hysterical, I finally helped him gingerly step out of the shower. I took a look at the terrible injury..... it turned out to be a little piece of red fluff from the washcloth. I'm feeling sorry for his future wife already when he comes down with the Man Flu.
But then there is Helen, who had a blister on her foot. I had to talk her into getting it rinsed and band-aided. After a couple of hours, she told me "it's all better, I don't need that thing anymore." (note: it was still bleeding, actual blood, not towel-fluff "blood") All stoicism, all the time! There is a reason this girl has never been to the doctor for anything other than well child visits.
Thomas remains focused on his primary goal in life, that of Not Being Left Out. His own injuries get major or minor reactions depending on more situational factors, like did a big kid take a toy away and should a grownup be getting on that situation. However, without fail, should anyone else get a bandaid or an ice pack, he is right there insistently putting in his claim of "TOO, TOO!"
