ben vs. will

it's amazing to me how 2 brothers who come from the same mother/father can be so different. but that's definitely the case with ben and will. ben is 7 and will is almost 5.

• WILL is affectionate. he loves being hugged, kissed and held. BEN wants affection on his terms. when he wants to be hugged and kissed, he'll ask.
• WILL is giving. he will always give ben the best. the best toy, the best sticker, the biggest piece of cake or candy. BEN is selfish. he takes the best for himself. he always has to go first, and always has to have equal everything that will has.
• WILL is protective. he worries about his family. he wants us all to be safe and gets upset if we do something that's not safe. he tries to keep us from being hurt (especially ben and andy). BEN is protective of himself. he doesn't care if will gets hurt or in trouble as long as he doesn't get into trouble.
• WILL is concerned about his appearance. his clothes must match, be clean and fit well. his teeth have to be brushed, his hair has to be nice. he won't be in front of people (other than his famly) not 'put together'. BEN doesn't care. he won't go in front of other people in his underwear - but he's not concerned so much about his appearance, being matched, etc.
• WILL is relaxed. he does just enough to get by. he's ok with not being the best at something as long as he has fun. BEN is an over-achiever. he has to be the best and works hard so that no one will to get to a "higher level" on anything than he is.
• WILL is thankful. his manners are impecable. he constantly tells me how much he appreciates me and how much he loves me being his mommy. BEN wants what he wants and he wants it now. he does say thank you and knows his manners - but he often has to be reminded.
• WILL is imaginative. he can create fun for himself out of nothing. he loves to dress up as a different hero - and do pretend play. BEN is more realistic. he deals more with how things are in real life. he can't use his imagination real well. everything has to be lined out and in order.

WILL gets his emotional side from me. he gets his giving, affectionate, protectiveness side of him from me. he gets his manners from his daddy. he gets his relaxed tendencies and imagination from his daddy. he gets the need to being concerned about his appearance from me (although that's not been the case w/me too much in the last 5 years : ).
BEN gets his selfishness from me (i'm not too proud of that one : ). he gets the lack of desire for affection from his daddy. he knows he's loved - so he doesn't need to be reassured as much. he gets the not caring about appearance and what people think - from his daddy. he gets the over-acheiver, realistic part in him from me. and for his manners - from me too. i am thankful - but like him, need to be reminded at times.
i am anxious to see how ANDY turns out. so far he is made up of the best of ben and will, and so far - doesn't have too many qualities that aren't good. i think ben and will are made up of the best and worst of david and i, and andy's made up of the best of both of us. hopefully - he continues and stays the sweet, loving, well-mannered boy that he is.