Sabrina has long had a good influence on Max, often in ways I could have never imagined. As a tot, Max loved to swipe her pacifier right out of her mouth—an excellent way to sharpen his fine-motor skills. In recent years, when she's teased him, he likes to chase her around the house—a great way to get his legs moving.
Sometimes, Sabrina likes to read to him and vice versa. Here's a vintage video of the two of them, guest-starring my mom (Max has since become a much more attentive audience):
Yesterday morning, I discovered a whole new kind of sibling therapy. Sabrina was mad because the previous night I'd taken away a favorite piece of clothing as a punishment. As I was in the bedroom getting dressed, she walked in carrying a photo of me and Dave that she keeps on her dresser. She made a big show of pointedly kissing Dave—only Dave—in the photo. She stood there for several minutes, repeatedly smooching the glass as I applied mascara.
"I love you, Sabrina!" I finally said, taking the Gandhi approach.
She stormed out. I heard her talking with Max. Then he popped in and said something to me. I didn't understand him the first time. But when he repeated himself, I got it:
"I love Daddy only!"
Guess who had been coaching him?
Revenge speech therapy: I'll take it.
