Big Brother vs Friend

In conversation, Shaling has told us that Preston is her friend, not her brother. In her mind, the two boys from her orphanage that arrived in Rochester a couple of weeks ago are her big brothers (or ge-ge, which is Chinese for older brother). She always seemed quite firm on this matter, but was not mean or hateful when she said it. I assumed perhaps she was just confused...perhaps not fully absorbing that they are in fact now siblings. We are definitely Mom & Dad and the kids get along fanstastically, so we chose not to push the issue. We figure that over time, it will work itself out. Besides, Preston was quite happy and proud to have her call him "friend."

Last Friday, Shaling had a friend named Katie over to play. At some point during the evening, Shaling showed her dad an open wound on her lip. Her lips have dried out enough that she has a small sore and it was bleeding a bit. Teasingly, Brock asked her, "Did Katie hit you?"

Shaling said, "No, Katie my friend."

Brock asked, "Did Preston hit you?"

Shaling said, "No, Preston my ge-ge."

Mildly, but happily surprised, Brock asked, "Is Preston your friend or your ge-ge?"

Shaling said, "Preston my friend AND my ge-ge."

Brock tells me that Preston just grinned from ear-to-ear.