What I Love About Being a Mama: Sibling Friendships

Undoubtedly, one of my favorite things about being a mama is when I get to witness how much my kids truly like one another.  Not just "we-love-because-we-have-to", but actual friendship.  Snuggling, tickling, laughing, playing because-they-want-to friendship.  It warms my heart to no end to see these sibling friendships developing and growing.

Stacey Woods photos of sibling friendships

I was folding laundry on Lila's bed yesterday, and Lila climbed into Charlotte's crib to play with her, like she so often does. They just began snuggling under the covers and tickling each other and giggling like little girls do. My heart melted into a puddle when I saw them being so loving toward each other, all on their own.

My camera was in my office, but my iPhone was nearby, so that is what I used here. After all, "the best camera is the one that's with you."  ~Chase Jarvis

I actually texted this photo to my two sisters immediately afterward, because it made me think of them. We're still best friends to this day, even as mamas ourselves.

Parents, never underestimate the importance of fostering real friendship between your children! I'm so very grateful for my sisters... the way we have always helped each other through different stages of life, having all of those inside jokes that no one else thinks is significant, much less funny. How we support each other even if we don't agree, how we can call or text in the middle of the night if we need a listening ear or a bit of advice about a sick baby.  How we've comforted and encouraged one another through breakups and boyfriends, marriages and babies, through life and death and sickness in between, through prosperity and heart-breaking loss, through cross-country moves and changes that cannot be reversed. I am sp grateful for our undying friendship and our unconditional acceptance and support of each other.  I know that my sisters always have my back, even though we are scattered across the country.

Our parents gave us these most wonderful gifts: each other.

It is my intention to guide all three of my children to not only love each other, but to truly like each other now and forever.  To give them what I have with my sisters.  And it's a beautiful thing to witness this unfolding before my eyes.

So what about you?  Are your children also friends? Let's talk!  I'd love to know your tips and ideas on how to develop sibling friendship in the comments below!

I'll go first!  :)  There were three of us girls, but only two bedrooms upstairs. So the two who were arguing the most would have to share a room until we learned to get along. We didn't like it at first, but it worked like a charm.  Mom was pretty brilliant like that.

Now it's your turn!

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Today is the first day of my new blog series entitled, "What I Love About Being a Mama".  Stay tuned for the next few weeks as we celebrate mothers all over the world.  I'll be featuring interviews with other mamas, special gifts, and giveaways just for my readers!  Be sure and subscribe so that you don't miss a single post!

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I also hope you'll join me this Friday and Saturday, April 11th and 12th, for Mother's Day mini-sessions at Honeymoon Island in Dunedin!  I'd love to melt YOUR Mama-heart into a puddle when you see images of your children loving on each other, and loving on YOU.  Register now by emailing me through this website (contact link above) or by calling me at 727-698-0344.  It would be my honor to celebrate you and your children, even if they're grown up and not-so-little anymore.  They'll always be your babies, after all, right?

xo, Stacey

My Birthday Boy

Today is my love's birthday. (Well, yesterday, by the time you read this.) Stacey and Chris Woods

That's us, circa July 2000.  It was our first wedding anniversary, and we'd gone back to the beach where we'd said our vows the year before.

Chris deserves a bit of attention today, because without him, I probably wouldn't be here at all. His quiet encouragement for the past 14 years, his dry sense of humor when things are chaotic, his sensible perspective despite all of The Crazy I bring... these traits are beautiful to me. I am so proud, and so glad, that this man is mine.

Chris Woods

Stacey Woods

That baby girl isn't Charlotte... it's baby Lila.  ;)

I am the mushy one who can stretch out a compliment a mile long. / Chris quickly gets to the point about what he likes. But he is sweet and sincere, and his "All my love, Chris" card signature is every bit as beautiful to me as a poem.

I love to try new things. / My husband is as predictable as the hands on a clock.  He will deny it outright, but truly, his routine = solace.

I am creative and so messy. I love pens and notebooks and flowers and frames and images and anything lovely to inspire me while I work. / His most-used tools are spreadsheets and calculators, and he has nary a photograph on his desk.  (Especially shocking to me, considering my profession and the abundance of photographs we have in our home. But I digress.)

I am forgetful and flighty despite my very best intentions. / Chris is dependable, true to his word every time. If he says he'll be there at 7pm, he pretty much guarantees it.

A lot of times my introverted-ness comes out, and I tend to shy away from crowds, or at the very least hold back, smile and just people-watch until it's over. / Chris is most definitely Mr. Life of the Party.

We are opposite in so many ways, but the things we have in common far outweigh our differences.

Together, we helped God create the three most beautiful children on the planet.

We both enjoy a delicious steak.  He's even coming around to my way of grilling cooking them, I think. Maybe. Possibly?

Music is essential to our lives, every single day. We have so many songs that we connect to.

We love Dallas.  Not the city, the TV show.  (We used to watch old episodes of the original Dallas together, on the Soap Network years ago.  Rest in peace, Larry Hagman.)  I rarely watch anything on TV, but I have to admit that I look so forward to Monday nights, snuggled up next to Chris on the couch.

We can't imagine living any distance away from the beach.  We've both experienced snow, sleet, and "iiiice storms" enough to know what we like. That sweet, salty air in our lungs is necessary for us to breathe, now.

We try and trump each other by rattling off funny movie quotes at the most well-timed (or ill-timed) moments. Usually something from a corny slapstick movie.

A little Johnny Cash, some comfy chairs on the patio, a bottle for him and a glass for me, always make for the best date nights ever.

And he is never more attractive to me than when he's being a good daddy. Which is pretty much all the time.

Chris Woods

We are yin and yang. Peanut butter and jelly. Oreos and milk. Tarzan and Jane.  :)

Happy 44th Birthday, my sweet southern boy.  I'm yours forever.

xo, Stacey Jo