Parents.. with different treatment

Time skip

It was a warm, sunny afternoon, and the house was filled with the sounds of laughter, chatter, and the occasional squeal of excitement as balloons bounced around the living room. Xavier's 2nd birthday had arrived, and the family was in full celebration mode. Streamers in shades of blue and green hung from the ceiling, and a small cake with a truck design—Xavier's favorite—sat on the kitchen table, waiting for the big moment.

Valerie was bustling around, making sure everything was perfect. Xavier, now a curious and energetic toddler, was toddling around the house, stopping occasionally to examine the brightly colored decorations. He was getting bigger and more independent by the day, his personality blossoming in ways that constantly surprised Valerie. Today, though, he was blissfully unaware of the fuss being made just for him—he was more interested in the balloons and his older brother, Xander, who was now three and full of boundless energy.

Xander, on the other hand, was navigating the new, somewhat complex emotions of being an older sibling. Though he adored his little brother, there were moments—especially on days like today—where he struggled with the attention being shifted away from him. Xavier was the birthday boy, and all eyes were on him. Xander, now used to being the "big brother," found it hard not to feel left out.

"Xander, can you help me bring the presents over to the table?" Valerie called from the kitchen, sensing that her eldest was starting to feel a bit sidelined.

Xander, who had been sulking near the corner of the room, perked up at the chance to help. "Okay, Mama!" he chirped, running over with his little arms outstretched.

As they carried the presents together, Valerie noticed the subtle change in his mood. He wanted to be involved, to feel important. "Thank you, sweetie," she said, smiling warmly. "You're such a great helper. Xavier's lucky to have you as his big brother."

Xander beamed at the praise, though Valerie could still see the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. It wasn't easy for a three-year-old to understand why his brother was getting all the attention today, even if just a year ago, it had been his own birthday that had everyone celebrating him.

As the party guests—a small group of close family and friends—began arriving, the excitement grew. Xavier, delighted by the extra faces and the new toys being placed on the table, waddled around, smiling at everyone. He wasn't quite old enough to fully grasp that today was *his* day, but the energy of the celebration clearly thrilled him.

Colby, who had been setting up some outdoor games for the kids, walked inside to check on everything. He scooped up Xavier, bouncing him gently in his arms as he smiled down at the birthday boy. "How's the big two-year-old doing, huh?" Colby asked, his voice playful.

Xavier giggled, his chubby hands grabbing at Colby's shirt, and Valerie couldn't help but smile at the sight of them together. It was a picture of happiness, but in the background, she noticed Xander watching from a distance, his face clouded with confusion.

The moment the birthday song began, Valerie saw the change in Xander. As everyone gathered around Xavier's cake, Xander's expression shifted. He had been okay up until that point, but now, as the focus zoomed in on Xavier, the reality of being the "older" sibling in the shadow of a birthday celebration hit him hard.

"Happy birthday to you..." everyone sang, and Xavier's face lit up as he stared wide-eyed at the flickering candles on the cake. But Xander stood next to Valerie, tugging at her dress, his lower lip beginning to tremble.

"Mama..." Xander's small voice cut through the singing.

Valerie leaned down, gently placing her hand on his back. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"I want to blow the candles..." Xander mumbled, his voice barely audible over the singing.

Valerie's heart ached a little at the request. She had expected this, knowing how difficult it could be for a young child to navigate the emotional terrain of sibling rivalry, especially during special occasions like this.

She gave him a soft smile. "I know, Xander. But it's Xavier's turn today, remember? On your birthday, you'll get to blow the candles again."

The explanation did little to soothe him. As soon as the song ended and Colby encouraged Xavier to blow out his candles, Xander burst into tears. The attention had been too much for him to handle, and now the disappointment of not being able to blow out the candles alongside his brother spilled over.

Xavier, startled by the sudden crying, looked around with wide eyes, unsure of what was happening. Valerie scooped up Xander, holding him close as he cried into her shoulder.

"It's okay, baby," she whispered, rubbing his back. "I know it's hard. But you're still so special to us, even when it's not your birthday."

Colby, sensing the tension, quickly tried to redirect things. "Hey, Xander, how about you help your brother open his presents?" he suggested brightly, kneeling down to Xander's level.

Through his tears, Xander sniffled and nodded, wiping his eyes. He was still upset, but the promise of being involved in the presents seemed to ease some of his frustration.