13 & 3
Jim Zola
Jim.zola@ci.high-point.nc.us

This is probably not a very common situation. Not many people these days, with their well-planned two to three year separations between births, have a three year-old and a thirteen year-old. We do.

And so, as though living in an actually case study of diverse stages of development, I have come to some conclusions about 3 year-olds and 13 year-olds.

They are so much alike it is scary!

And get them under the same roof, in the same room, attempting to control the same TV remote, the proverbial fur is bound to fly. It‚s like two magnets with the same polar properties. They repel each other, to the chagrin of everyone (read parents) who happens to be in the same biosphere as the separated at birth (by 10 years) twins.

Both love to control situations. Both love to argue. Both tend to be moody. Both are seeking independence while still clinging to that recently bygone dependence. Both are social. Both tend to like to play with the same things. Both feel the need to possess (it's MINE!). Both know everything. Both are starting to defy authority. Both are seeking a true identity.

Someday, the two of them will be able to sit back and laugh about the conflicts, the constant teasing and bickering that made up these years of childhood together. As he goes off to college and life outside of the home, and she goes on to school and a world outside of family, we hope (and pray) that the similarities in their personalities will strengthen their bonds.

Some good has to come of this. Thirteen and three. An expert in numerology might have a clue. All I do is try to referee the best I can.
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