THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITIES

Our younger children are spoiled. I have this from the ultimate authorities--the Older Children.

Oldest Daughter Tillie, age 18, and Oldest Son Alan, age 17, are a pair. They were born a year and a half apart, and it was another eight years before we had another one--and five more years before we had another one after that--so they are sort of in a class by themselves, the one and only original children, the ones we would have stopped with if we were normal.

It's not just spoiling that they point out. They are happy to point out any form of deviant behavior in the younger children, especially the four- and five-year-olds--even good stuff.

Oldest Daughter is home from college on spring break. Once kids get to be this age, it's actually a relief having them around, instead of more work. Tillie actually LIKES to read to her little sisters. She's majoring in theater, and reading aloud is kind of a hobby for her--lots of voice expression and that sort of thing.

Tillie read to the little girls last night. Lillie was listening and sucking her thumb (there's nothing like a good after-dinner thumb if you want to relax before bed).

Halfway through "The Five Hundred Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins," Lillie removed the thumb, announced, "I wonder how the author is going to solve this problem," and reinserted the thumb.

Both Tillie and Alan, who was in the room, laughed and then informed me that this was not a normal statement for anyone young enough to suck her thumb. In Alan's words, "That's not right, Mom."

I explained to them that it's just that Lillie has a good kindergarten teacher, and Lillie repeats some of the teacher's phrases. Another one is, "Are there any questions or comments?" Lillie spouted this one a few times before I caught on that the kids are taught to say this about their share items during share time.

Lillie's teacher obviously stops during read-aloud time and speculates on the author's intentions. I think this is one of those reading techniques that's supposed to help the children understand the story, understand that there are authors behind each story and that they plan things out, etc. etc.

Alan and Tillie just think it's a little weird. Okay. I remember when they weren't so doggoned mature as they think they are. I remember Tillie putting fingernail half-moons in Alan's arms when she was mad, and Alan crying about it. I remember the time Tillie tried to hatch eggs in her sock drawer (discovered when the smell led us to the makeshift nest). I remember when Alan trapped himself in the trash can.

I put up with them knowing more than I do. They put up with Lillie and Francie. It works out.