Olivia likes to think about when she was young. She often asks what she was like as a baby, when she first started talking, whether she spoke English or Chinese etc.

Recently after having one of these discussions, she suddenly turned serious and gave an assessment of her current life. "My life is bumpy," she stated.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well you know, things are bumpy.  They go up and down." as she moved her arm up and down illustrating her point.  "When I was a baby, my life was smooth, but now it's bumpy."

"Why is that?" I asked, genuinely interested in what she was going to say.  I was surprised she thought that way, knowing that her life to date has been pretty easy.

"It's because of Evan.  He's always messing up my stuff and bothering me.  Ever since he showed up my life's been bumpy."

Sorry to hear that baby.  Even though the two of you fight and argue from time to time, you two actually get along pretty well. You just haven’t realized how much the two of you love and care for each other. More than once I heard from the parents of Evan’s friends that you took care of him like a little mommy during his friends’ birthday parties. And the scenes of you two play nicely together have always touched our hearts.  

I've always said to you and really mean it when I say that Evan and you need to get along, because he may be the only life-long friend you'll have in your life. You are lucky to have him as your brother to share your life withJ.