With all of our teenagers off to summer camps and mission’s trips, Dani, our nine year old has been suddenly thrust into the position of big sister. That esteemed position of the eldest child, the sister whom all the little children look up to as a role model, a leader, and a comforter.

Apparently, she is taking her new role quite seriously. She is doing extra jobs around the house, without being asked to do them. She is doing the jobs that belonged to the teenagers who are currently at camp, and doing them correctly.

She is being quite helpful with the younger children as well. Last night, she actually helped the four-year-old with her bath while I worked on blogs. Then, when I couldn’t find her, she was cleaning her bedroom without being asked to do it!

I guess it may not seem so surprising unless you realized that this is the same little girl who has been giving us grief for well over a year now. The very intelligent child who refused to do her schoolwork all year and almost failed the fourth grade. The little girl who doesn’t do what she is told unless one of her parents is standing over her.

The child who refused to clean her room, and had to have 10-minute timeouts every hour, to finally get her to clean it over the past year. Yes, the same one who received an in-school suspension for sneaking off during lunch with one of her friends.

Funny, isn’t it, how some people, when thrust into a position of authority can suddenly rise to the occasion? Perhaps it was her destiny to be a big sister and not a little sister. Perhaps she just needs to feel more needed?


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