Side by Side

Yesterday I posted tons of pictures from our visit with Sisterwife, Jayburb, and Trouble. As I was looking through the pictures, I saw these and felt like they needed their own post. In some strange way, the represent everything that is good and perfect about Doodle and Jayburb's friendship.

We spent Saturday afternoon at the local playground. The kids found a double slide. They spent about 30 minutes sliding down together.

Jayburb always having to wait on Doodle as she slowly, safely, and methodically climbed back up to the top.

Always holding hands to start with.

Jayburb sliding faster.

And loosing his grip.

And always smiling, squealing, and laughing all the way down.

Neither of them remember a time without the other. They grew up in and out of each others' houses. They shared and squabbled like brother and sister. They shared their days and sometimes their nights. They love each other with an innocence that can only be found in children. They worry about one another. When Doodle left the circus because she was scared, Jayburb worried for the rest of the show. When Jayburb leaves on a trip, Doodle asks about him daily. During our visit, Jayburb looked out for Doodle when the museums got crazy, and Doodle climbed up in the maze to help Jayburb get down.

They love each other unconditionally. Jayburb never questions why Doodle still sleeps with a paci (I know, we need to get rid of it!). When Jayburb was potty trained and Doodle was not, he all but encouraged her to stay in diapers. When something worries Jayburb, Doodle never thinks he is silly, she just worries about it too. They seem to compensate for each other, teaching, encouraging, and understanding they are different.

Even thought these two little ones love each other like this, they are just as happy to play with other kids, wander off and do their own things, and live separate lives. They are comfortable in knowing that their friend is around the corner, down the street, or a few hours away. That comfort is one of the most wonderful things about their friendship. They are not so tied to each other that they cannot enjoy things separately. It has definitely made it easier to be so far away.

Looking at these pictures and writing this has reminded me how precious and rare this kind of friendship is. If we are lucky we find it in our spouse, and in a handful of other people throughout our lifetime. Jayburb and Doodle are as lucky as two kids can be!

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