February 19, 2004 - Sunday
This evening at dinner we had to send Jeremy into the hall for a time-out. He was being nasty and rude and generally acting like a two-year-old and that, well, sometimes happens. The interesting thing about it is that Harry, rather than being intrigued by the whole spectacle or impishly grinning because his brother was getting "in trouble" as can happen with siblings, seemed to be a little saddened by it. For one thing, after I'd picked up Jeremy from his chair and set him down in the hall chair, Harry questioned whether I hadn't been too rough and hurt Jeremy's arm. I tend to doubt it, but I can imagine Harry seeing it that way because I try to be no-nonsense about those things. More interesting still, when Jeremy did come back to the table and started to make a fuse about trying something (we tend to insist the boys try a bite of everything and if they don't like it they don't have to have more), Harry, somewhat under his breath, said "just try it." It was kind of like he was pained to see Jeremy's continuing struggle and was wishing he'd just get through it.

None of that is too surprising. Harry's proven that he can be very caring and concerned, but such outward expressions are rare. Still, this is evidence of a growing mind and growing self-awareness, as well as an awareness of others. And that is fascinating.


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