Polar opposites Besides being separated

Polar opposites

Besides being separated by almost 6 years, Nikolas and Mackenzie could not be less similar. The cartoon below pretty much sums up Nikolas in the morning. (click on it to enlarge, if you can't read it)He gripes, he groans, he yells, he covers up and refuses to get out of bed. when finally he is vertical, he picks fights and is generally unpleasant to be around. It takes him about 30 minutes before he is human. Conversation with him sounds like conversation with a caveman - "Grr. Grumble. Ugh."

Mackenzie, she's different. When you wake her, she grumbles for about 10 seconds. Then she pops out of bed, jumps into her clothes, and dashes downstairs. "Good morning, Mommy! I had the best dream - it had a pony, and a purple scarf, and cookies, and ......" About this point I tune out, since in reality I resemble Nikolas most in the morning. It's a struggle for me to be kind - gives me something to offer up every morning!

The difference in these two extends throughout the day, and was never more clear than two separate conversations I had yesterday. Mackenzie and Nikolas went out to ride bikes. "Mommy, I can ride my two wheeler really well! I am a great bike rider! Guess what! My teacher says that I am a great reader! I know how to do everything! I am so happy! I'm good at everything! Traa-laa-laa!" (All is true, except the traa-laa-laa, but you can bet if she knew it, she'd be saying it.)

Nikolas fell off his bike - well, he was riding Allegra's bike, which is too small, and he turned the wheel too sharp and fell. He had the walkie-talkies, and called for me. I went running, and helped him up. He was covered in blood - he had really banged up his knees and elbows. I helped him back to the house, during which we had this conversation: "I am so stupid, I am so dumb, I can't believe how stupid I am! No one falls off a bike except a baby. I do everything wrong." He feels this way, just about all the time, about everything.

Two kids, same parents. I don't think I did anything different, but I certainly need to parent them differently.