Changing Your Ways And Becoming A Big Brother

I have three kids who within the next two months will be eight, six and four, all boys. I can remember since my very first one was born thinking that the things that sometimes drive us crazy with our kids sure don’t last very long. Whatever it is that they are doing, the terrible two’s or what have you, I sometimes think that I am never going to be able to take this any longer. But, shortly thereafter, the change and evolve and they no longer do that little thing that drives you crazy.

I told my oldest son, Echo, that he had to become more of a big brother and watch after his younger brothers. I wanted him to take more of a leadership role as opposed to a brother role. A brother always wants to win no matter what the contest, a brother gives it all when he is wrestling with his other brothers, a brother always has the last word. But, a big brother sometimes lets his younger brother win. An older brother sometimes panders to his younger brother, making him think that he is special.

My boys are so competitive with each other that I really thought that it was time for a fundamental shift in the relationships. So I asked Echo to take on the responsibility of being more than just a brother, to pick his spots, and to become a "big brother" in the true sense of the word.

It took several months of reminding and teaching, but here he is today at age seven, on his birthday, having become more of a big brother than I could have ever imagined. Kids change and they do so quickly. Why is it that as we get older, we become more set in our ways? Isn’t change and evolution often a good thing? Why are law firms so change adverse?