Big Boy and Small Man are good friends.
That makes me incredibly happy, but I don’t think it’s something Pete and I can take credit for – they’ve gotten on well since Small Man was born. For thirteen years they shared a bedroom without a single complaint, and I can count on one hand the number of times either of them has ever raised a voice at the other.
The photo above was taken walking through a park in Melbourne – I seem to be building up a series of images of my sons walking away from me. Perhaps it’s deeply symbolic, and maybe I’ll gradually accumulate a collection where they get further and further in front of me.
All I know is that I find taking photos of the two of them striding off together quite irresistible – their family resemblance, already so strong in their build and facial features, becomes even more pronounced in their gait and posture. Their camaraderie and deep affection are always evident, but never more so than when they’re loping off purposefully together, often chatting, but sometimes just walking in step with one another.
It makes my heart soar. ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Lovely boys!
They are! Thanks Deb!
Beautiful, Celia. xx
Thanks love xx
Beautiful picture, full of symbols indeed, I can see why it makes your heart soar!
Thanks Sally darling.. xx
Lovely photo, backs can be so eloquent xx
They speak volumes, don’t they? xx
Walking in step – there’s the key Celia. I’m sure however far behind your boys you and Pete maybe, you’ll always be walking in step with your lovely young men.
Jan, that’s such a nice thought, thank you!
I’m with you here,Celia. I don’t usually have a camera when I’m with my sons- they take enough pictures to share! But the friendship and the fellowship and that sense of them off into the world- yeah- it is amazing and it always makes my heart overflow when they turn around and say- “Hey mom! Catch up with us here so you can see/hear/discuss this with us.”
Lovely picture- handsome and loving sons!
Heidi, Jordan and Luke are so alike – whenever I see photos of them on your blog, I’m struck by the resemblance! I hope my boys stay as close as yours have as they get older. xx
Beautiful picture! I can understand your joy! However far ahead it seems they are, you’ll never be too far behind.
Manuela, I’m not sure that’s true actually. I think they’re supposed to leave us behind, that’s how life works. Hopefully they’ll still visit! :D
I know how you feel…mine left and married to start lives of their own and my reward are the grandchildren…
Norma, we still have so much to look forward to then.. x
Gorgeous photo of course Celia- given the subject matter how could it be otherwise? :) xox
Ha! Thanks Becca.. :)
That’s so wonderful that they’re such great friends.
We’re very blessed, Claire!
When we hear our girls laughing or sharing silly photos with one another, it brings such joy. When they move out on their own it happens less often, so we savor every drop of these precious moments. I believe when their children play together and I have the precious gift of stealing a moments glance of it, I may not be able to catch my breath.
This photo of your boys speaks to their easy stride together — so good for a momma’s heart. Thanks for sharing this Celia. :)
Judy, you’re just that little bit further down the track than we are. I’m still slowly letting go, but thank you for understanding how happy their relationship makes me!
Celia, I too love those walking away pictures and I have taken many of my children, especially in their teens and early twenties. They all “walked away” and then came back with grands, eight no less. The pictures of the grands face me, because I could watch their antics and expressions for days on end. Such joy you have to look forward to years down the journey.
Eight grandchildren! Sally, you’re rich! :)
From behind, they almost look like twins – so similar in size and colouring. How lovely for them to get on so well and not to be fighting. My Archie and Arabella have been at each others throats from the minute Arabella was born. But they love each other too it’s just they both won’t back down from a fight – ridiculous xx
They’re so alike physically – only their faces differ really. Same build, same hands and feet, same voices, same posture and gait. Archie and Arabella crack me up! :)
Hello Mother: no wonder you feel so incredibly proud :) !
They are such a joy to Pete and I!
The four of you deserve credit, and exactly what you have, a happy life. As well as the words “it doesn’t have to be hard” the G.O. said to me, there’s another key, everyone has to participate :)
Thank you – we do have four willing participants here, that’s true.
Hehe funnily enough I have a pic of you and Pete walking away from me! But I don’t think that it’s symbolic in the same way :)
Nah, we would never walk away from you – well, unless it was raining and we were running to our car.. ;-)
I have 2 grown up boys Celia (23 & 21). they can be the best of friends and the worst of enemies! But if one falls the other is always there to pick them up. God bless your boys and keep them safe & close always!….
Thanks Lina, God bless all our boys! xx
What beautiful thoughts here, Celia and a beautiful photo. I know that heart soaring moment well. My two aren’t best friends, but I’m told when their dad and I aren’t around they get along famously:) so there’s hope there. I am so not looking forward to seeing mine walk away from me, but I’d better get used to it I guess!xx
You and me both, Barb. It’s transition time for both of us, isn’t it? xx
We’re looking at selling our condo on the lake.. makes me so sad, but I know we won’t use it much at all if the kids aren’t with us..
lovely symbolic picture. no matter how far they walk ahead, they will always come back to you :)
I live in hope! Thank you! :)
Gorgeous, Celia… makes me want to weep for all sorts of reasons xo
Thanks darling, I didn’t mean to upset in any way.. xxx
As a post script and on a similar topic of siblings… did you happen to see Australian Story this week? http://www.abc.net.au/austory/
No, I missed it! Which story was it, there are a few on the website? xx
I am sure that you have posted a similar photo before, and they seem to have grown in my mind. How amazing that they are so close – it makes for a happy house hold I am sure xox
Tandy, I certainly have (link in the post above) – I seem to be building up a collection of these photos! :) xx
You are incredibly lucky Celia. My two brothers who are twins are equally as close, although I guess being twins they inherently would be.
I bet you could create a beautiful series of these lovely shots on a wall in your home.
Have a lovely day.
:-) Mandy xo
I think twins either end up close or completely different – so glad your brothers are close, and hopefully they’re close to you too, Mandy! xx
A very touching post, I am lost for words.
Thank you, Norma.. xxx
As our children grow older, they do seem to walk further and further from us. Nice photo.
I guess that’s how it’s meant to be, Karen. I’m still coming to terms with it. :)
You’re very lucky Celia :) I really can’t wait to give my daughter a sibling!
It’s really the best of times, Lisa! Enjoy your little ones! :)
You are killing me with these photos… so precious. Love this :) xx
Thanks darling. I thought of you when I posted the shot – I knew how much you loved the last one! :)
They are very lucky boys to have a mum who loves and trusts them like you do. Love this photo!
Thanks M! They’re lovely kids, but hey, I’m biased. :D
What a beautiful post and photograph. It made me think of that line from The Wind Beneath My Wings …. “I always walked a step behind you”… One of my favorite photo’s I have is of my daughter as a toddler in her nightie walking off to bed and your comment about them walking away from you brought a tear to my eyes. You may say that you can’t take credit for their special bond but I have to believe that you and Pete certainly did something very right.
Diane, you’re kind, thank you, but we had very easy and obliging children to work with. If we did do anything to contribute to their relationship, it was to make an active effort NOT to compare them to one another.
I don’t have many regrets but I do wish that I would have had more than one kid. My nieces are so close and best friends and I wish that our boy had a sibling to share with. Lovely, lovely photo, my dear, Maz. <3
Thanks darling. We get what life gives us, don’t we? And your kid is so perfectly wonderful! :)
This is so lovely. Interestingly, my mother has always had this fascination with taking photos of people walking away. There are loads of me and my dad — from behind! I think there is an instant sense of a story in photos like this.
Siobhan, it’s the striking family resemblance that always blows me away – all three of my men walk in the same way. Even from a distance, you could tell they were related. Even when they were very young, watching Pete with his boys walking off always astonished me.
You and Pete can definitely take some credit for the boys great relationship Celia. It’s a lovely photo.
You’re kind Jo, thank you! x
I think it’s lovely you all love going away together for a weekend and have so many interests in common.
Nancy, we’re very fortunate. Pete and his sons are very much on the same wavelength – although I struggle to keep up sometimes! :)
Such a beautiful picture and a lovely sentiment :)
Thanks Julie! xx
I disagree! I think you and Pete should take the credit. I believe siblings have a natural tendency to fight for parental attention and can thus push each other away, and this tendency must be combated by parents. I see so many parents just accepting this behaviour with statements like “Siblings are meant to fight, its normal, there is nothing you can do about it.” and allowing it to happen.
When Melanie and I had our second child right from the beginning our expectation was that the two children would get along and become good friends. Based on this expectation we as parents have taken actions to make that happen. Like your boys our two share a bedroom, despite the fact we have a spare room available. We also have a play area outside of the bedroom that is also a shared space. Yes sometimes they do fight over these shared areas but this provides us with opportunities to teach them sharing, negotiation and cooperation skills. Sometimes we also reward and punish them as a group i.e. only when you are both ready for school can either of you play. This results in them working as a team – the oldest helps the youngest get dressed for example.
As a result they are the best of friends – spending majority of their time playing together. In the good old days when the number of resources like bedrooms, toys, etc were limited it forced parents to push and expect them to get along. This is just another example how more is less.
Sorry about the long comment, I guess I am just trying to say: Well done both of you.
Jason, please don’t apologise, it was a lovely comment! How wonderful that your kids get on so well already! A friend told me today that our boys have an ease with one another, they’re comfortable in each other’s company. Can’t ask for more than that, I guess! :)
Oh, you’re all beautiful. Who’s leading who? The small or the big? Hoping you’re well. Xxx
Thanks Ali! In this photo, it’s Small Man in front, Big Boy with the bag behind. In the previous photo it was the reverse. :) xx
Proud Mama and rightfully so!
Thanks darling xx
a very lovely photo, dear Celia & your boys look great!
Sophie, thank you! xx
x :)