One day, Big Man was sitting between my wife and me on the short couch we have in the back room. We are not particularly wide people, but with the multiple throw pillows our modern design culture demands at either end of a sofa, we made a snug trio. Buster came into the room, and not seeing a convenient nook into which to wedge himself among us, declared in disappointment, “I wanna sit in the love.”
It’s adorable to hear your four-year-old phrase a situation like this, and that was the trouble. You can hardly refuse a request to join the love. As comfortable as you might be, you can’t say, “Sorry; no room,” to a kid who just wants to be included in the circle of familial affection. You can say it in a heartbeat to a boy who wants a spot on your couch, but when that couch is the Love Boat, you have to shift your reluctant butt, jettison a throw pillow or two, and let down the gangplank.
It’s all worth it though, to reinforce a child’s appreciation for his family. That is, it would be worth it if there were any hope of that appreciation lasting more than one fleeting second. Unfortunately, love is always warmer when you are watching it from off the couch.
I don’t remember how our little lovefest ended, but it’s a safe bet it degenerated into a squabble between Big Man and Buster. An overpopulated sofa will cause that. So will almost anything else you can imagine.
Four-year-olds and two-year-olds can find a way to fight about anything, because it’s not about the thing, it’s the you got it; I want it sentiment. On that same principle, four-year-olds can find innumerable things to fight over with seven-year-olds. You would think a seven-year-old would run out of things to squabble over with a two-year-old, but that’s where you’re wrong. It turns out there is still a lot of two-year-old left in a seven-year-old. My wife might tell you there’s a lot of two-year-old left in a 48-year-old, but I disagree; I act much more like a four-year-old.
Sometimes you can share a tiny bit of space and time with your brother.
But sometimes you need the whole couch to yourself.
All of this fighting is how we are sure the love we sit in is real. None of them would have such vigorous disagreements with other kids. It’s only their brothers who inspire such depth of emotion. Only their brothers could ever send the message, “I’m kicking you because I love you.” Granted, that’s not the entire reason for the kicking (“You’re in my spot, Butthead!”), but it wouldn’t happen to someone less dear.
These boys have built the foundation for a lifetime of devotion to each other through their tireless efforts at fussing and feuding. It’s hard work being such a good brother like that. So, sometimes you’ve got to let all that love settle and just go sit in it for a minute.
You’ll fight better after a bit of rest.
Snoozing on the Sofa 
Dogs are a lot more like kids than most people think. They like to share the “couch love” too, and whatever one has, the other wants. They can also stretch to fill an entire sofa at naptime. Bonus with four-legged kids? Nobody really expects them to behave. 🙂
When I was young we had a German Shepherd who would try to sit on your lap on the couch. He was too big and my lap was too small for that.
I can so relate to this kind of brotherly love. I have three brothers and when they come to visit I’m usually stretched out on our couch, with beer and chips—because I happen to love them too. My wife will then ask me to make room for them (not my beer and chips) to sit. Naturally I want to, but that would mean displacing my chips and beer. Let’s just say, I fear my wife may not understand the depth of my affection for my brothers, but they seem to be coping just fine without a place to sit when they visit. I know this, because I usually have no beer or chips left after their visits! No doubt, the depth of Buster and Big Man’s affection will be the same as they get older. 😀
Just as long as their brotherly bonding doesn’t cost me any beer or chips.
Love indeed. No doubt, borne out of watching sporting events without beer or chips because the wife forgot to buy them at the store. Thus, failing to recognize their proper place with a husband on the sofa. Hopefully, the boys will respect dad’s love for beer and chips when they grow older… with a forgetful wife… and children of their own. Yet another loving rite of passage. 😀
Never leave the procurement of beer and chips in the hands of another.
That was nice. I felt like I was sitting in the love too, of course I want a TV tray with a cold beer I can reach to make the love complete.
You have to get your own beer. Plus, you have to get juice and a snack for each of the children. Also, bring a damp cloth and the vacuum cleaner.
I’m with Jon, I’ll sit in the love if love is made up of beer and my team winning.
Jokes aside, my two actually proclaims how they miss one another if one of them is out of town!
I know right? Teenagers are weirder than women.
They must get awfully bored after a couple days with no one to fight.
What an adorable post. Your kids are so special, Scott. I know it must be hard to endure all the squabbles and fights but you are right, the LOVE is there. I grew up with 5 brothers and believe me the squabbles and fights did not just extend to the boys. I remember one day spending hours building a Linkin Log cabin (I think that is how it is spelled) and one of my brothers came by, viciously kicking the whole thing to pieces. He thought it funny. I thought it cruel. Boys will be boys regardless. God bless you and your wife for having 3 boys! Just wait until they are teens!! Oh boy!!! ❤
I grew up with four brothers, Amy. Most of my toys met an untimely end. I also never got my share of ice cream sandwiches, but that’s another story.
I bet I have more stories then you do. LOL
That’s the kind of competition I’m not sure I want to win.
The “Love ButtHeads.” ❤
Aren’t we all just love Buttheads?
Sure we are!