Hungry

Ever since we started our 'career' of working with therapists, developmental pediatricians, special-ed preschool teachers, we've been told that Olivia's most important teacher/therapist is her big sister.

Alyssa is really, really great with Olivia. She really is. She's gentle when she tumbles her sister about the room, she invites her into tents built out of furniture and blankets, she's willing to put on a swimsuit just because Olivia is wearing one and wants her sister to match her.

Basically, Olivia idolizes her big sister, which is only right and good in the world of sisters. She watched Alyssa and figures out how the world works. She also watches her sister to see how to get her way in this world where the big people try to be the boss of her.

Alyssa is a master as getting what she wants. She's gentle, she's sweet, she turns on the charm. but she can also be whiny and cajoling to the point where a haggard old mother might just give in to get some peace and quiet.

Heck, my mother has a cat in her house becuase when Alyssa was four years old she cried for three straight hours about how much she just wanted a kitty of her very own. I know. Seriously. I know. My mom got that cat a week later and told Alyssa that it was her cat, she just lives with Gram and Papa.

That's just how good Alyssa is at getting her way.

And Olivia's learning from the master.

One of Alyssa's biggest things is that she gets most of her calories for each day at the end of the day. She snacks on small food items early in the day and by about 4pm, she's 'STARVING' and starts saying, "I'm hungry." about ever ten minutes.

Believe me, it's annoying.

But at least at seven years old, Alyssa is capable of getting herself a lot of foods. She can microwave a hotdog, she can get turkey out of the fridge, she can get an apple/banana/grapes. She can open a bag of chips. You get the picture.

But Olivia...oh, Olivia. She's very recently picked up this habit from her sister. While she doesn't just pick at food early in the day, she's begun to announce that she's hungry every ten minutes throughout the day. And at three years old she can't just help herself. Which means an adult (ME!) had to go get her something. Constantly.

One of the things that is affected by O's syndrome is her metabolism. She has a very high one. So I don't feel good about just telling her, "Dude, you JUST ate." Even if she did just eat. So we get her food, constantly, throughout the day.

Yes, it's lovely to see the sisterly interaction of my girls. I just wish I could pick and choose the things Olivia learns from her sister.