Over breakfast one morning, my daughters made an announcement.
“Avi had a great idea last night,” Zoe said.
“And what would this great idea be?” I asked.

“We’re joining forces,” Avi informed me, “United we stand, divided we fall.”

“You’re joining forces?”
“Yes,” Avi said, “It came to me last night. If Zoe and I put up a united front, we’re more likely to get things to go the way we want them to go.”

“Hm,” I said, “Because your lives are so bad the way they are?”

“It’s not that,” Avi explained, “I just think things will really work out the way we want them to, if Zoe and I work together to get what we want.”

“Well, isn’t this interesting,” I said, “Were you just sitting around your room last night when this brilliant idea came into your head?”
“Pretty much,” Avi said with a smile.

Manipulation at it finest.

I guess it’s their rendition of Survivor. It’s a good thing Jon and I have formed a tight alliance.

My daughters have always been close. For the most part, they look out for each other, have each others backs, and are good friends. But they’re also normal, and can fight over the stupidest things. Sometimes, when the “sister drama” as I like to call it, gets particularly annoying, I try to remove myself completely from their presence. Usually they work things out themselves. So far, we haven’t had to visit the ER because of a fighting match.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, they clung to each other like never before. In fact, they slept in the same bed together for at least three months. Finally, one day, Avi couldn’t take the mess in Zoe’s room anymore, and moved back into her own room.

They go to the same school, and don’t really see each other much during the day. But I found out recently, that Zoe always goes to find Avi whenever she leaves school early to go to a track meet or golf match, so she can “give her a hug goodbye.”

I love everything about this.

I hate that they had to go through having a mom who had an illness, but I love that it brought them closer. It’s the “something good” that came out of “something bad.” And there’s always something good, you just have to look for it. Sometimes you might have to look a little harder, but it’s there.

I hope my kids are always close. But this united front idea? This could really mean trouble for Jon and me.

Find meaning each day,

Dara