When in doubt... cry.

We know a girl, who for better or worse, we spend a lot of time with. She is exactly one week older than Ellie and her brother is 9 months older than Addie. On the surface it looks like a great set up. These kids will grow up together and could possibly be very close for it. In theory I want this. I want my kids to have this type of relationship because they certainly are not going to have any real cousins.

... but in reality? It kind of bites.

These kids are far more wild and misbehaved than our own. We often struggle with our girls just a little more after we've ever spent time with the kids. It seems that our girls try to see if they can get away with just as much. I see this only getting worse as they get older.

But it's more than that. It's more than the influence that they have over my girls that makes me question the "better or worse" part of my first sentence.

Michael has always been very good with children. It's one of the things that made me fall in love with him. Whenever we're at birthday parties, Michael (along with Brynn's father) is the one who has swarms of kids attacking him from every angle, trying to get their turn for his attention. They love him and rightfully so. He's fun. Everyone likes him. The other parents are thankful for him.

But this girl... This girl has learned one thing in life. When in doubt... cry. She has learned that if she cries long enough she doesn't have to apologize. She has learned that if she cries long enough she doesn't have to say please or thank you. In fact, she has learned that if she cries long enough she doesn't have to use any words at all. Whether she doesn't have to say she's sorry because obviously she feels bad, or she doesn't have to say "please" because she's obviously scared... well either is BS. No, she doesn't have to use her words because she has learned that if she whines enough than all the adults around her feel sorry for her and back off.

What happened this time? Michael was rough housing with her and her brother, but like every time before, if something ever goes differently than she wants it to, she breaks down. Michael grabbed her brother's hands and tickled him. The girl laughed. Michael grabbed her hands and said "Ah ha! Now I've got you both!" She started to cry.

It's not the first time that something like this has happened with her. It just seems to happen every time either of us play with her in any manner that is joking or somewhat typical "rough housing."

The result?

We've concluded that Michael is banned from playing with the kids. Ridiculous? Probably, but I see it as the only way to avoid future conflicts. And it's so unfortunate too because the kids will want to play with him. They always do.

This weekend is Ellie's birthday party and Michael (along with Brynn's dad) is bound to play with the kids, as he should. There will be squeals of delight and lots of laughter and splashes. But he will not include these two children. Why? Because if he does, he's bound to get into trouble.

And if he doesn't, they're bound to feel left out. Suck.