There once was a girl named Hanna who used to get our undivided attention.

We read books, we played games, we walked, we talked, we danced we swung on swings and swam in pools and then one day, her little sister Ellie was born.

Hanna would go out of her way to tell her little sister, “Hey, I’m playing with Mommy only. This is a Mommy-Hanna game and you are not invited—as per the title of the game.”

This went on and on and on and on and on until I finally got through to Hanna that this new family member was going to be sticking around for a while and we were going to include her in our activities.

Yesterday I was playing volleyball in the yard with Ellie when Chloe (another little sister) came stumbling by and asked if she could play.

First of all, I think as a family member, this is the one place you need not ask to join in, you just hold out your arms and form a triangle or grab a thread and start braiding or pick up a ball and toss it.

Ellie said, “Chloe, this is an Ellie-Mommy game so you’re not playing.”

Oh Ellie, this is exactly what I went through with you and Hanna. You must have forgotten.

Ellie, “Get out of here Chloe.”

Chloe grabbed the ball and ran.

There was a physical skirmish of some kind until Chloe (still holding the ball) ran away laughing.

Ellie was screaming, “Get back here! Stop laughing!”

Chloe replied, “I’m pretending to be an animal. A hyena! They laugh! Can’t get mad!”

Caught on a technicality.