American College of Orgonomy

Several years ago, when my daughter Lara was just three, our family made its annual summer trip to Oregon, adding a side trip to Seattle to visit friends. We arrived at their home in the afternoon to spend one night before heading off the next morning for the San Juan Islands.

Our friends have two sons. At the time, one was a toddler and the other a five-year-old. The older boy, Adam, was delighted when he saw Lara, and in a flash they were off to play. The adults settled in to an afternoon of visiting, rarely seeing Adam and Lara who whisked by occasionally on their way to a new adventure, strategically staying one step ahead of the toddler. By evening it was clear to all that the two had a special fondness for each other.

As bedtime approached, we asked Adam and Lara where they would like to sleep. Adam pointed to our daughter and blurted out, "I want to sleep where she sleeps!" So we laid out sleeping bags in the downstairs family room and left the children to themselves to wind down while the adults went upstairs for a last cup of tea.

When the evening drew to a close and we were ready to sleep, we walked back down to the family room to find the two children sound asleep, having abandoned most of their clothing, heads together, draped in each other's arms.

I woke up shortly after dawn the next morning and noticed that Adam was awake too. He was watching my daughter sleep, not making a sound and staying quite still, just looking content to watch her sleep, with an expression of tender regard on his face. I was astonished. Our daughter had had several sleepovers in the past, and when one child woke up, he or she would always wake the other child up to play.

I whispered to Adam that I'd take him upstairs if he wanted to play, but he shook his head no. So there we both sat, remaining quiet for nearly an hour, until Lara awoke.

As I occasionally glanced his way, Adam's contentment never seemed to alter. He never grew impatient for my daughter to wake, as children will do. He seemed, simply, to cherish her. It was in his eyes, and I was amazed to see what I felt to be the whole of love in one so young. It was all there, in him, already. Nothing to be learned.

When Lara woke, the two resumed their play with gusto. They costumed each other with their regular clothes, everything backwards and upside down, amid gales of laughter and bites of breakfast. My husband and I prepared to leave, taking some of the usual vacationers' pictures as we loaded the car and began our good-byes.

The kids took the departure in stride, hugging and playing to the end. They took no notice of anything unusual in their tenderness for one another, which had so moved us as parents.

Our families have since visited several times, and the children always seem fond of one another, in a general way, as time and distance dictate. But that first encounter between them will always stand out as a moment of true love between children.

Cathy Schleining has a bachelor's degree in psychology. She has worked for 10 years as a residential and educational counselor for the Ashland Adolescent Center. She has written for the Journal of Orgonomy and for family publications in Southern Oregon. She lives in Ashand with her family.