December Story 26: December 2020 Cousins and the Photobooth

My favourite gift ever is photos. It’s not just coincidence that a family photo shoot happens sometime around Christmas and Birthday season in late December, early March. I love photographs and memories more than stuff. My highlight of course is seeing these three cousins together and getting photos of them. At every age it has different challenges. Right now my girls no longer look at the camera, but Naliandrah helps me encourage Kaiya and Kirra. It is also tricky to get the girls in their natural environment. Right now when the light is good, they are usually moving at lighting pace, and aren’t going to wait for me. When they are still, it is dark or sitting in challenging light. No matter what, it is so cool to see them together, here are a few things about their relationships right now.

Right now you all have different influences. Grades at school, Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 6. You sometimes speak a different language when you start talking about your passions, but eventually you teach each other a lot about current pop culture and popular things among your circle of friends. You spend time explaining, sharing, googling (if you’re allowed screens), and storytelling. There is so much listening.

Right now you constantly navigate keeping up with the one setting the pace, and making sure the one lagging behind is not left alone. This can be hard in a group of three, but you often make it work.

Right now you are hanging out peacefully intent on playing, you go quiet, and concentrate on games, and learning about each other. It means that the parents get time to chill out, supervising on the sideline like spectators instead of active referees and party coordinators on the field / court. It’s a different kind of energy, a different kind of calm, and we are grateful.

Right now there are big age differences to navigate but despite the differences, you manage to meet in places in the middle to relate to each other. Kirra is independent, who will find time to play in her own world as she does normally at Kindy and this will be interesting to watch as the age gaps grow proportionately smaller. For now, it sometimes gives her time with Mumma or Daddy so we can help her with swimming and it’s lovely to get time like that while she is still young. We always look out for our youngest as a family principle, and it’s something each three of the girls have learnt.

Right now they are good at advocating for each other.

Right now Nali and Kaiya are very social. Kaiya is learning about all the things that makes Nali unique, and is learning different social concepts, perspectives, and hearing how kids socialise at Nali’s age.

Right now we are hearing more of Nali’s story. We share a lot of ours online but it takes a few days on the holidays to catch up with what Nali is up to. We are missing our school holiday times together due to COVID. Younger cousins around also bring out the child in us, and Nali jumps in to play. Over time this may change, but for the moment all three are keeping the rest of us, and each other, young.

Right now the whole crew, grandparents, and parents, are doing everything we can to have the best experiences for the kids. This holiday got us out and about doing so many things we wouldn’t if there were no Grannies. We love them so much and are happy to have adventures with them for as long as they will hang out with us. So far they are wonderful and jump into play every chance they get. Pushing us all to play hard as well as work hard.

Right now the only way I can get them having fun smiling at the camera is in a photobooth. Totally worth the $24. Totally worth it!