Cousins

M. Edium is an only child. His cousin, my niece Deniece (not her real name) is also an only child. We try to make sure they spend as much time together as they can.

We've all heard the pop psychology about how only children turn out self-centered and self-absorbed because they never learn to share or work out conflicts with their peers. Whether it's true or not, neither we nor Deniece's parents wants our kids to turn out that way. And so these two cousins have become the closest thing to siblings each other has. Even their age difference is sibling-compatible; she's six and a half this week, while he's just a few days north of three-and-three-quarters. It also helps that we only live ten blocks apart, and have babysat each others' kids lots of times. She slept over at our house last weekend, and he slept over at hers the weekend before. They're more comfortable with each other than I ever was with any of my cousins, who lived two states away.

The other benefit is that when battles over toys, turf, or TV break out, there are generally four adults to mediate. It works out well for everyone, except for whichever kid is in the wrong in any given situation.

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Cousins

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