You're gonna miss me when I'm gone -- Summer 2014

I sighed and glared at my dad.  "Thanks for laughing at me," I said to him.  "I knew this would be pointless..."  They always sided wiht Dana because she was the baby in the family.

"Then why don't you listen to it so I don't have to go on about it again?" I said to her, a smile playing at my lips.

I hated that Mum was mocing me.  "Can I just go bug Elliot or omething?  Get away from Reed?" I asked, kicking at the ground.

I sighed.  "Reed, please," I said to him.  "Buck up, kiddo.  Just be happy you're not an ony child... it's more fun with a sibling."  I could vouch fro that.

I stared at my dad like he was crazy.  "Yeah, okay," I said, not believing him at all.  "Whatever you say..."

I sighed and looked at my daughter.  "Honey, you can't just run away from your brother, either," I said to her gently.  "I know he's a big pain, but he's your brother.  You two will eventually like each other more, I promise."

I wished that my mum would just stop it.  "Okay, if you say so," I said, not really believing it.  I sighed.  "What should I do then?  Yell at him?" I smiled innocently.

I laughed at Reed's reaction and stopped immediately.  "Okay, sorry," I said to my son.  "I know Dana can be bothersome at times.  But she only is because she loves you.  Didn't you know that's how younger siblings act when they love their big brothers?" I felt like I repeated this at least five times a week and he never believed it anyways.

I chuckled at my daughter's answer.  "No, don't yell at him... but you also are allowed to stand up to him -- in a non-cruel way," I added quickly, knowing which route my daughter would go to stand up to Reed.

"And you sound so old fashioned when you say that, Dad," I muttered.  "I think she's around just to be annoying and it has nothing to do with love.  At all."

I could not help but chuckle again.  "You're right, Reed... your mum and I had a second child just so they could annoy you.  It was only a bonus that it was a girl," I said to him sarcastically.

I sighed.  "If I have to be nice, what's the point in standing up to him?" I asked, crossing my arms while glaring at my mother.

I hated the sarcasm my dad was using against me.  I sighed.  "Don't talk to me like I'm daft, Dad," I said grumpily.

I looked at Dana.  "You will find that you don't have to be mean to be able to stand up for yourself," I assured my daughter.

My patience was starting to wear thin, but I could not let it show with my son.  "I'm sorry, Reed, I did not mean to make you feel daft," I said, realizing that Reed was trying to be more British even though his mom and I still had American tendencies.