My mother tells me that when my sister was born, everyone predicted that we would become best friends because we were so close in age (we’re 22 months apart). However, that turned out to be not the case because our personalities were soooo different.

While we get along fine now, my sister and I didn’t have the best relationship growing up. If we weren’t fighting, we were ignoring each other, or doing completely different activities. In fact, we didn’t begin to really talk to each other — by this, I mean engaging in meaningful conversations and confiding in each other — until we were both in our mid-twenties.

My mother recently observed that Claire and Aerin also seem to have completely different personalities, and expressed her concern that they too would fight like cats and dogs as they got older.

I admit that I’m a bit worried about this too. 🙁

We recently got rid of our coffee table in an effort to create a larger play area for the girls.

Aerin, being much more easygoing, sociable, and adventurous, has recently taken to following Claire around the house. It is clear that she already looks up to her older sister and wants to play with her. However, Claire tends to get annoyed or upset at Aerin and is still having a hard time learning to share not only her toys and books, but also her loved ones’ attention and affections.

I would say that at this time, at the ages of 22 months and 9 months, they get along and play together about 50% of the time.

And when they do get along, it is plain adorable. Like the times Claire tries to “read” to Aerin by flipping through the pages of a book and pointing out pictures and jabbering away in her own special language. (Aerin usually responds by trying to eat the book. Claire says, “NO!” and tries again. They repeat this for a few more minutes. Finally, Claire gives up and walks away, shaking her head and muttering under her breath.) Or when Claire pushes Aerin around in the walker, as evidenced by the video below:

I guess that at this time, all we can do is keep encouraging and nurturing their relationship, and hope for the best.