How would Charlie be different?

Yesterday afternoon I got the privilege to just hang out with Charlie for the afternoon while his brother was 'helping' at the building, moving tractors and then taking a semi ride out to the farm. You can just about imagine how excited my 3 year old was to hang out with daddy, grandma, and grandpa while they worked hard to get the building ready for possession on Sunday.

So the afternoon was just Charlie and I and we haven't done that since he was just a young baby. It was great. We went shopping where Mom bought a new Matt & Nat, then to the grocery store, and then home where we played in the backyard. It was so good to just get one on one time and I saw a whole new side to this sweet, docile (yet quick tempered) little boy I've got.

It got me thinking. If Charlie was the first child, how would he be different?

At the grocery store I usually have both and Jack demands all the attention. It's the type of kid he is and always has been. He talks to every person that passes, yells "hello" down the aisle to people we don't pass; basically starts up a conversation with every person in the store. He LOVES the grocery store! He's a social little guy and the grocery store is the perfect outing. Especially now that he gets to push his own cart- WOW, fun stuff. Charlie usually sits back, doesn't crack a smile, and gives everyone the stink eye while his brother is hamming it up. I chalked it up to being either shy or more cautious.

Well not yesterday! Charlie was front and center getting all the attention for the older ladies who were cooing and caaing at him. He was playing it up too, smiling back, giggling, just thoroughly enjoying all this much due attention. A side I have never seen.

Which brings me back to my original question; How would he be different? Would he be different? After yesterday, I can confidently say that Jack does steal a little of Charlie's thunder. I realized that the things I promised when he was in my belly about spending quality time with each other separate must start now. I thought I had a little more time. I don't.

Charlie is his own special little person with a personality quite different than Jack and I think he needs time on his own sometimes to fully become who he is meant to be. Jack needs the same thing. Although the boys adore each other, and it was a great reunion when the afternoon was done (full of hours of playing well together) it was great to have time apart too.

Who will these little boys become? How are the things I am doing shaping their character? Do I actually have THAT much control?

This parenting thing is such a learning curve. I learn new things every day and I just hope that with all these 'lessons' that I am stumbling upon that I can quietly steer these two in the right direction. To become the men I dream about.