The middle child

Our oldest two children spent five days with friends this week, and I learned a lot about my middle child, David, who's currently 4.

I learned he can start a game on NickJr.com all by himself.

I learned he can navigate to the Braves baseball website and start watching video highlight or full-length games by himself.

I learned he can actually tell the score of a baseball game, and that he prefers to cheer for the "Not-Braves" team, just to tease his daddy.

I learned the sucker can read! READ, I tell you! Sounding out like a pro!

I learned he will sit for an hour doing puzzles or coloring scraps of paper without whining.

I learned he still likes to race the twins on little ride-on toys.

None of these things happen when the older, capable sisters are around, because why work when you don't have to? Why read when someone's always vying to read for you? Why race with little kids when you can be racing big kids? And forget starting a computer game by yourself when you have big sisters who beat you to the computer!

It's been enlightening and delightful, but I am glad to have the girls back. It will certainly be livelier!