My two youngest children are so funny. Cierra and Carson are only 18 scant months apart in age, as close to artificial twining as I will get, and yet they are several light years apart in every other aspect imaginable. While I know they come from different biological families, I am often struck by how these two are as opposite in every possible way as any siblings could ever be. Ok, some days I laugh, while others I pull my hair out!

I could begin by noting the most obvious ways they are not alike, or even in the same zip code. Of course Cierra is a she, and Carson is all he. Beyond that simple difference however is a much more complex chasm, bridged by the tender thread of their adoptive sibling hood.

In my photograph, as on most occasions, Cierra prefers to be wet as often as sprinklers, garden hoses, or large puddles present themselves to her. Carson on the other hand is tentative about being moist under any circumstances, aside from bath time, if he does not need to be. On the day this was taken Cierra had spotted a fountain and was drenched before we could blink. Carson simply sat back and observed her frolic informing us, “I’m dry, I’m OK... I”m ok.”

My daughter is a porcelain skinned, blue eyed, authoritatively sassy, zipping ball of combative energy. My son on the flip side is a dark cocoa, coal eyed, quiet and polite, statue of thoughtful gentility. In spite of this, put them together, and they do seem to compliment each other (like peas and carrots?), that is until one of them takes the others toy and runs.

Looking back now I can see how from the start they each were sort of enamored of each other though. I will never forget how Cierra kept bring the car seat over to us on the day we arrived to receive Carson, calling out, “Baby go home NOW” to each of us. Little Carson only opened his eyes when she was talking, like her voice was a little light switch for activating his alert mode that day. She still seems to perform just for him very often with her escapades, and he is always keenly observing them with interest. I think the things that scare them the most to be or do themselves, seem to be the things that fascinate and mesmerism each one about the other. A quirky combination, but it works.

In the end I could not have imagined how very different my two closest in age might turn out to be. I often jokingly refer to them as my “polar - opposite” twins, but the irony there is not lost on me. I will admit though that I am looking forward to seeing them over the years, bridge their differences, and build a strong sibling bond. I know their sibling connection with lead them together down paths and in directions that would not have come about any other way, and I love the possibilities there.

Note the same cheesy smiles.



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Photo: Copyright Deb Donatti 2007