Sister Sister

I grew up with 3 sisters.  We had our squabbles, but for the most part we were great friends.  We shared rooms, we did each others hair, we borrowed clothes, we shared secrets, we stood up for each other, we took care of each other, and we leaned on each other.  I love my sisters and I would do anything for them.  

(My sisters and I July 2011)

When in July 2003 I gave birth to my second daughter, I was thrilled to have two little girls who would be best friends.  Well, that's not exactly how it worked out...yet anyways.  From the time Kya was old enough to exercise her independence, she and Jordan were at odds.  Jordan wanted to play princess, Kya couldn't care less about princesses.  Jordan wanted to play dress up, Kya absolutely hated to dress up.  Jordan wanted to sing and dance, Kya wanted to dig in the dirt...you get the idea.  You couldn't find two more different little girls.  There were times when the girls played brilliantly together, but as they got older, their "likes" got further apart. 

(Jordan and Kya September 2003)

(Kya and Jordan September 2005)

Shortly after we moved to LA (2008), I decided to move Jordan out of Kya's room and Tyson moved in.  Somehow, it seemed that Tyson and Kya had more in common than the two girls.  Jordan absolutely loved having her own room, with her carefully placed jewelery and decorations that nobody would bother.  Everything seemed to be great, until we noticed that the girls seemed to be slowly drifting further and further apart...not to mention Tyson and Kya were getting a little old to have a boy/girl room sharing arrangement.

When I brought up the idea of Kya and Jordan sharing a room again, Jordan was VERY against it.  She was so against it, that every time we discussed it, the conversation would end in tears.  Jordan didn't want to share a room, and Tyson was too scared to be in a bedroom alone.  So, we waited...a year to be exact.  When I brought the idea up again, Tyson was no longer scared to have his own room, but Jordan was still set against it.

(Kya and Jordan June 2010)

Once Mike and I decided the girls needed to be back in the same room, we presented it to Jordan in the best way possible.  We told her, that after our trip to Canada, we were switching room--end of story.  I explained to her that since she was starting Middle School, sharing rooms would be a great way for her and Kya to spend some time together.  Of course, she still didn't like the idea, but she was less resistant.  Finally, I promised that when we switched, we could paint the girls room...any color they wanted.

This had the exact effect we were hoping for.  I watched the girls bond as they studied paint swatches, discussed where to put their beds and how to decorate their walls.  By the end of painting day, the girls were cranking up the Ihome and dancing in their "new" room.  I think it was worth all the hours of moving furniture, painting and taping the room, and endless cleaning.  Maybe my girls will become BFFs after all...at least that's what I'm hoping for:)

(Jordan's white board...she wrote this to place in their new room)

(Jordan, Miley, and Kya in their newly painted room)

 

(Kya in her new room--look at that PURPLE wall!!)

 

(Jordan wondering if she's going to like sharing a room with her sister...I think so!)