Empathy came early for Tim.

When he was almost 2 years old I was sick with flu or sinuses or whatever. After getting he and I up, dressed and fed I lay on the couch while he played. At one point he came over to me and I said “Mommy sick”. He took a moment then went into his bedroom. He came back with his blanket, that he pulled through the slats of his crib and used it to try to cover me up.

For one so young, that was really impressive.

When Tim was 3 1/2 I gave birth to his sister. In those days they kept women in the hospital for 3 days when giving birth. I had her on the first afternoon and the second evening I called Tim to say good night. By this time he had been told he had a sister. He asked me where she was. Trying to keep it simple I just said, “She’s sleeping. They have a little bed here for her.” Tim replied, “We have a bed here for her. You bring her home!” And thus their bonding began. He liked playing with her and when she was able to walk confidently he chose to take her with him when he went to play with a neighbor. After a few times, I had her stay home some as I didn’t want her to think she would always be going with him. I also felt he needed some “friend time with out his sister.”

Once, when she was learning to walk, she was standing at our big trunk moving along hand over hand. When she got to the end she let go with one hand, then the other, then fell on her bottom. She looked at me sitting on the sofa a few feet away. Then she looked at Tim, sitting across the room in a recliner. Then she looked back at me. Only then did she start to cry. I glanced at Tim, who quickly said, “I didn’t do nothin” Mom. I been sittin’ here the whole time .” Perhaps he had a premonition of what may come in future years.

Summer was about 18 months and Tim was 5. I had gotten us all ready for the day and now was doing my makeup and hair in the bathroom. I could hear Summer shuffling towards me and whining. My response was “Tim, do you have to…..” at that point I had my head out of the bath room and could see them both. Summer had my big sewing scissors, fortunately pointed to the floor. Tim was carefully trying to stop her from walking and also reaching slowly for the scissors. I finished my sentence with “yes, you do have to” and then praised him for being such a good brother.