When we finally pulled into the parking lot of Daughter #1's dorm for Parents Weekend, Daughter #2 had jumped out of the car and was hugging her sister before I could even swing my car door open.
Daughter #1 returned her sister's embrace in her typical cautious manner, but the smile was spread wide across her face.
Who were these girls? They chattered away like two long lost friends all weekend, walking together far ahead of The Ex and me, who were strolling lazily and snapping photos as we made our way across campus Saturday.
Daughter #1 had to report to the Biology Lab to check on her paramecium, and we tagged along to watch our hard-earned collegiate dollars in action. She assigned D #2 the chores of cleaning her slides and putting her supplies away, and I watched in amused wonder as D #2 nodded and set to work.
If we'd been at home and Daughter #1 had bossed her around like this, she'd have told her in no uncertain terms to stick her slides where the sun don't shine.
Later, D #1 called us at the hotel before we picked her up for dinner, and reported that several kids in her dorm had decided to have a sibling sleepover. Daughter #2 was invited to spend the night. She was elated.
But first we had tickets to a show at the college. My daughters sat side by side in the row in front of me, heads bent together, whispering and giggling.
At least that's how it started. But by the time the show ended, D #2 stood up and whirled around complaining, "She's so mean. She said people were staring at me because of the way I laugh."
"It's true." D #1 shrugged. "She's loud and people keep looking at her." To D #1, being noticed is the kiss of death. "Why does she draw attention to herself all the time?"
D #2 turned to her sister, furious. "I hate you," she said. And right then and there in the theater, she hauled off and slugged her in the arm. Hard. Okay, I thought. Now these are the girls I know and love. Well, most of the time.
The Ex, who had far surpassed his usual allotment of Family Time, sighed heavily in my general direction in a way that could only be interpreted as: Do Something. Now. Then he went on ahead to have a cigarette.
"Take it outside," I told my daughters. "There'll be more room for you to really hurt one another."
They glared at me condescendingly and rolled their eyes.
See what I have to put up with all on my own, now that you're gone, Daughter #2's expression clearly said.
I'm so sorry, Daughter #1's return glance concurred. I'd almost forgotten how embarrassing she can be.
Then, united in their daughterly disdain, they scurried ahead of me out of the theater, towards their Sibling Sleepover.
I followed in triumph. If only it could always be this easy...
So this is what I have to look forward to in eight or nine years?
Posted by: Jen on the Edge | October 29, 2009 at 07:46 AM
LOL! Mom, not taking sides is the worst!
Posted by: Heather | October 29, 2009 at 09:12 AM
OMG memories of my sister and me are flooding back... Sisters are the pros at love/hate relationships!
Posted by: Uppity | October 29, 2009 at 10:01 AM
You just described my step-daughters, to a T. Darling Daughter only has brothers, and I think she likes it that way.
Posted by: Jan | October 29, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Sarcasm. One of the least-known, yet most effective, mothering tools. Here CLEARLY applied by a master. "Take it outside..."
Posted by: LPC | October 29, 2009 at 10:47 AM
They will treasure each other as adults. I love the shared history I have with my sisters.
Posted by: Pseudo | October 29, 2009 at 11:56 AM
HA! You handled this perfectly, Maureen! Brought them back together towards a common target: Mom.
We may have unusual ways of working our magic, but
we always get the job done in the end.....!
Great post.
Posted by: kathryn | October 29, 2009 at 12:02 PM
They sound like my sister and me. Though we never got physical with one another. We killed each other with words- or my younger sister would slam her door and not talk to me for a long time!
we are 18 mos apart and mom thought that would be good. But we are complete opposites and were not close until the last few years and even that has sometimes been a struggle. her the homebody and withdrawn type. me the type a extrovert. Ah yes.
sisters.
Posted by: ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ | October 29, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Not having any siblings, I love reading about those types of interactions. I never really understood....
Posted by: Erin@TheLocalsLoveIt | October 29, 2009 at 01:50 PM
My sister and I were just that way, bickering until it came time to unite against the common enemy, the parents. :-)
Posted by: Sprite's Keeper | October 29, 2009 at 04:55 PM
This so reminds me of my sister and I - driving each other crazy while simultaneously can't stay away from each other. And you handled it all so well. Beautifully told story, btw!
Posted by: Jane | October 29, 2009 at 05:32 PM
Well played, Maureen. :-) Love how the ex needed out, quick. I'm familiar w/ that dynamic.
Posted by: Erin | October 29, 2009 at 08:19 PM
I'm going to have to remember that line. I read another one the other day that made me laugh as well. "The devil called--he says you're doing GREAT!" I just have to keep reading blogs to increase my arsenol so I've got a good stock of 'em for when my kids are teenagers. :oD
Posted by: Lynn | October 29, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Ah - teenagers..! I can't *wait*.
-maria
Posted by: vintage simple | October 30, 2009 at 08:36 AM
I love reading your blog, Maureen. All of the writing is so real and so true. Makes me feel like I'm not the only one going through it. Really -- lots of your life mirrors my own!
Posted by: Lori | November 01, 2009 at 11:20 PM