Brothers are more than siblings, aren’t they?

Recently Charlie had to go to the doctor,  he was in pain when something remarkable happened. Mom and the two boys went to the doctor and Charlie was not at all pleased about the trip. Sure there is a Burger King across the street that we sometimes get ice cream from after our visit there.  But this time he knew that the visit was 100% about him and his pain and that thought did not sit well in his three and a half year old mind.

When they arrived he was a hot mess.  Bawling on the floor, crying like he was getting paid in candy for the tears that hit the floor. It was then that his older brother did something incredibly sweet, genuinely helpful and entirely on his own accord.

He walked over and started asking Charlie questions about Phineas and Ferb. Phineas and Ferb is something that the boys and I watch on Roku quite often.  If you haven’t seen it, it’s the funniest animated show since The Simpsons and is as entertaining for adults as it is for children.

“Charlie, who do you think is funnier, Buford or Doctor Doofenshmirtz?”

He thought for a moment and said “Doof.”

“Charlie, who is funnier, Phineas or Doctor Doofenshmirtz?”

He thought for second, “Doof.”

The two went on talking about Phineas and Ferb until the doctor called them in.  It was a moment where Charlie went from zero to crazy meltdown at the drop of a hat and was called back from the edge in the same amount of time from his brother just by making conversation. It was something that a parent couldn’t have done, but his brother did with ease and grace.

In my mind’s eye I thought about the boys when they’re in their 30’s. I hope that they are the best of friends when they’re adults. Siblings are one thing, brothers, well that just has a whole different, deeper and more permanent bond, doesn’t it?

I imagine brothers opening up businesses together when they’re older, going on crazy adventures in the back yard or camping with other friends when they get slightly older.  Brothers, that’s a bond that nothing can break.  That bond is probably the same as sisters.  Sisters, that’s a bond that nothing can break, is it? Siblings are cool and do have a bond, but it certainly varies from family to family.  I suspect that sisters have the same club as brothers though, it’s the potential best friend and rival that they’ll have all of their life.

It’s possible that the situation in the doctor’s office might have been replicated had they been siblings and not just brothers.  Had that been the case it would’ve been cute also.  However, in my ‘guy’ mind, not to mention my parent observations, there was something even better about it because it was the two brothers figuring something out and fixing it.

My dad has a younger brother.  One time my uncle told me that when he was a child the only thing he wanted was to be more like his older brother.  When he said that my dad just shirked and mumbled something smarmy, but that brother bond was still there.