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Did you ever "keep score" with how many gifts each of your siblings had under the tree vs. your own? In last night's story, "Naughty or Nice" Bobby did and ultimately learned than envy gets you nowhere!
I had fun writing this story as it brought to life a tale from Tiff and Trisha's life where Tiff set Trisha up in the net as goalie and fired "hot shots" at her until my mother-in-law put a stop to it with the proverbial, "Tiffany Ann..." Still makes me chuckle to think about her doing that. Apparently she also made herself a goalie mask out of an old bleach bottle once! Yikes!
Thankfully, Trisha did not "net" a black eye in real life, but my sister Kathy had one for Christmas one year thanks to our brother Stuart accidentally elbowing her in the face over his excitement that Dad was home from a business trip.
For all of you who had older brothers, or older siblings growing up, you know how they could talk you into doing almost anything just so that you could hang out with them. Big brothers carry heavy influence in a little sister's life. There is of course the hero-worship when he stands by your side. Then the crushing feeling of inadequacy when he does not want you around him and his friends. Regardless though, a girl's self-confidence in adulthood can be a direct result of her perceived value in the family growing up. Does she have a voice to express her thoughts and concerns? Is she listened to with respect amidst older and louder voices?
I was so blessed to have a big brother who is still my hero! Regardless of all the torment he dished out to us girls, we all still love him. He still knows how to push each of our buttons to get a laugh too!
The character names for the story are not from the Brady Bunch as some suspect, but rather the names of two family friends who were faithful readers of the blog. Our friend Marcia helped me out at the show in Saskatoon this fall and took great delight in pointing out to everyone all the gifts under the tree for her in the illustration. Of course you were the "nice" child in the story Marcia - lol!
Have a great day and avoid the "hot shots" when you are out dashing about!
Shine on!
-K
I had fun writing this story as it brought to life a tale from Tiff and Trisha's life where Tiff set Trisha up in the net as goalie and fired "hot shots" at her until my mother-in-law put a stop to it with the proverbial, "Tiffany Ann..." Still makes me chuckle to think about her doing that. Apparently she also made herself a goalie mask out of an old bleach bottle once! Yikes!
Thankfully, Trisha did not "net" a black eye in real life, but my sister Kathy had one for Christmas one year thanks to our brother Stuart accidentally elbowing her in the face over his excitement that Dad was home from a business trip.
For all of you who had older brothers, or older siblings growing up, you know how they could talk you into doing almost anything just so that you could hang out with them. Big brothers carry heavy influence in a little sister's life. There is of course the hero-worship when he stands by your side. Then the crushing feeling of inadequacy when he does not want you around him and his friends. Regardless though, a girl's self-confidence in adulthood can be a direct result of her perceived value in the family growing up. Does she have a voice to express her thoughts and concerns? Is she listened to with respect amidst older and louder voices?
I was so blessed to have a big brother who is still my hero! Regardless of all the torment he dished out to us girls, we all still love him. He still knows how to push each of our buttons to get a laugh too!
The character names for the story are not from the Brady Bunch as some suspect, but rather the names of two family friends who were faithful readers of the blog. Our friend Marcia helped me out at the show in Saskatoon this fall and took great delight in pointing out to everyone all the gifts under the tree for her in the illustration. Of course you were the "nice" child in the story Marcia - lol!
Have a great day and avoid the "hot shots" when you are out dashing about!
Shine on!
-K