Dream Come True Photo - capturing connection between brothers, love, hugs, through thick and thinDream Come True Photo - capturing connection between brothers, love, hugs, through thick and thin

I noticed that parents generally fall into two categories: the first ones see their precious offspring through pink sunglasses, deliriously believing they are the best behaved, the smartest, the prettiest, the most successful and generally could do no wrong.  The second go exactly the opposite route: they believe their brood are the only ones to fight, scream, bicker, make worst mistakes, embarrass themselves and offend others.  Though, as parents we can definitely fall in either camp, or even trade them according to the situation...

I love my boys madly, but often tend to fall along with the second group.  It seems to me that my own boys talk louder, jump wilder, react more mindlessly almost then anyone else.  Behind the daily sibling rivalry curtains it is often hard to know for sure: do they even love each other?  

I know that the mom of these three guys can sometimes share my doubts.  Yet,  I've seen the oldest one run in to tell his younger brother first (same one, he was fighting with the day before!), that he won his swimming competition.  He lifts him up, twirls him around... and then rushes to share a swimmer-strong hug with the baby.

It is the middle one, teaching the bay a new skill or two.  It is the middle one, who refuses to go sleep without his older brother being in the same room.  

It is the sweet little toddler, whose eyes light up with unmatchable love and admiration for his older brothers, unmatchable for anyone else...

A few years down the road, the bickering, the fighting will be kindly wiped off our memories.  What will we have left?  

This: an image of them smiling together, sharing the same bench, the wonderful sunny day, the great love for each other. 

This is what really matters.  

Love you so much, guys, Irina and Alex.  Seeing how much your boys are devoted to each other - despite the daily meaningless little quarrels and silly fights they wouldn't remember the next morning - makes my heart skip a bit,  filling with warmth and hope :)