As a girl looking in on the little world of my two nephews, I see that brotherhood is something I may never fully understand. Their relationship is multifaceted and, at times, volatile. Still, no matter the status of their tempers at any given second, their brotherhood is absolutely priceless.As individuals, both Bryce, 9, and Dallas, 5, are quintessential little boys, constantly battling the forces of adulthood.
As individuals, both Bryce, 9, and Dallas, 5, are quintessential little boys, constantly battling the forces of adulthood.
Bryce, above, was born when I was 11 years old and practically lived at my house until we moved, so I have seen him shape into the loving, stubborn and antsy Bryce we see in this collection of pictures. The stunned face you see in this photo is because I caught him sneaking out of our pantry with a handful of Halloween candy right after his mother had told him he couldn’t have any before bed.
Sadly, I have not been as geographically close to Dallas, above, because we live 800 miles apart, but that doesn’t mean I know him any less. Being the little brother, he is constantly watching his big brother for mischief ideas, which Bryce gives willingly and plentifully. Although he has mastered the tantrum, he is also a sweet, sensitive spirit with a curiosity for everything. This photo showcases his mean streak, but he has the unique ability to turn from naughty to nice in a snap.
Just like unstable chemicals, when these two get together, you never know what will happen. You might as well surrender and watch the show because Seek and Destroy, as my sister sometimes calls them, have the upper ground in most skirmishes. Many times teamwork becomes their heaviest artillery in the war against the grown-ups. Here, Bryce incorporated his little brother in the mission to capture the afore-mentioned Halloween candy, once again banned by the treat Nazis.
As the older, more experienced soldier, Bryce often strategizes. Dallas studies Bryce’s every move in order to be as much like his brother as possible. Even when the tactics are as innocuous as riding bikes, wherever Bryce goes, Dallas follows. Even so, this training may not last long because Dallas is learning quickly.
From an outsider’s perspective, I deduce that the key component to the success of this brotherhood is always having backup. In one of those priceless moments, Dallas, guitar, and Bryce, keyboard, put on an impromptu jam session while Tim McGraw sang “Last Dollar” in the background. This particular cuteness tactic was very effective, as it made me want to go MIA from the adult troop and join the boys’ army.
Like any other regiment, battles within the ranks break out between the boys. It may be a struggle for power, but whatever the reason, the idea of sharing oftentimes brings about unrest in the brotherhood. Here, Bryce has control of the single tennis ball, but Dallas is seeking to take command of the toy. Dallas doesn’t take the loss well.
The same result comes when Dallas has something Bryce wants. In this case, after the jam session, Dallas took over on keyboard, but without Bryce’s consent. Despite the size difference, the little brother held his ground with an occasional shove. Bryce eventually retreated.
Although it seems the brotherhood squad has a clear advantage in most cases, the adults still have some effective strategies when it comes to taking control of situations. One of the most successful weapons is separation. Here, at a local restaurant, there was no hesitation on the part of the grown-ups to put as much distance between the little soldiers as possible. For the most part, this resulted in a peaceful meal.
Despite their frequent, momentary battles, Bryce and Dallas are the epitome of brotherhood. They proudly display all the aspects of the complicated relationship, and they fight bravely alongside one another against the forces of adulthood. With moments like this one, I fear that we grown-ups should just give up the fight and let the cuteness take over.
From an outsider’s perspective, I deduce that the key component to the success of this brotherhood is always having backup. In one of those priceless moments, Dallas, guitar, and Bryce, keyboard, put on an impromptu jam session while Tim McGraw sang “Last Dollar” in the background. This particular cuteness tactic was very effective, as it made me want to go MIA from the adult troop and join the boys’ army.
