While there are certain traits we share, there are huge differences between my brother and I that are pretty evident to just about anyone who comes in contact with both of us.
While we are both athletes (In high school and college, I played volleyball, baseball, tennis, hockey, and soccer; my brother played football, volleyball, and baseball in high school), I took school much more seriously. Well, I graduated with a 3.5 GPA while my brother scraped together enough credits to graduate. Of course, the fact that I didn’t have to try very hard in any subject and he had to focus all his mental energy just to pass consumer math divides us on a purely cerebral level.
Another area where we differ is in how each of us views the act of parenting. Obviously he can claim first hand knowledge because he has two children and I have none. That doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m talking about though. I mean, I don’t have first hand experience with infidelity, but I can definitely discuss the inherent selfishness of the act with little trouble.
My brother’s little demon spawn throws tantrums. I’m not talking about a little crying and maybe some yelling here either. I’m talking about the full blown, throw-throw-yourself-down-on-the-ground and kick, punch and scream like somebody removed your liver without the benefit of anesthesia howling. The kid can wail like a banshee.
If my child acted like that in public, I’d immediately take him home, shove him into a cardboard box in a dark closet and ignore him until he stopped. My brother? Caves in to whatever it is the child wants to stop him from crying. Neither of us believes in corporal punishment, but he would rather err on the side of caution and pretend that nothing happened than acknowledge the idea tha a good swift swat on the ass is in order when his child is ill behaved.
Over the last four days, I’ve come about as close to swatting this kid as you can without showing outward signs of murderous intent.
Only a few more days… only a few more days… only a few more days…