There's Something So Beautiful About the Bond Between Brothers
The first time we placed our newborn in his brother's lap, my oldest — only 3 years old at the time — counted the teeny pink toes peeking out from beneath the blanket, looking him over with an expression that I couldn't quite read. I held my breath in anxious anticipation of how he'd react.
More from SheKnows
Christian Bale Has Tapped Leonardo Dicaprio & Other A-Listers for This Suprisingly Sweet Project
Finally, leaning close to the baby, he whispered his first-ever words to his brother: 'Do you want some of my Skittles?'
I let out my bated breath in a sigh of relief. If the first thing he did was offer to share, maybe this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship — because everybody knows toddlers aren't exactly world champions at sharing.
Of course, sharing isn't always the norm. They're both teenagers now, and we've since added two more brothers to their world, bringing the grand total to four boys (and a lot of squabbling). They wrestle regularly, tackling and pummeling, huffing and heaving, even now that nearly all of them are the size of grown men.
But like a storm cloud in a strong wind, any animosity blows over quickly, and I'll find them moments later watching TV or TikTok in a heap, their physical closeness — leaning against each other, an arm draped over a back — reminding me of the way twins are entangled in utero.
They tease one another relentlessly, about crushes and taste in music and … well, everything, really. But if someone outside their circle of brotherhood dares to pick on any of these traits, they're quick to jump to one another's defense. They are evidently allowed to prey on each other's insecurities — it's what siblings do, after all — but no one else should even think about trying. Where one of his brothers is concerned, even the most non-confrontational of the bunch is quick to stand up for any perceived injustice.
The way they love each other overwhelms my heart, and always has. It's one of them saving allowance for something special and then deciding to use it on a gift for his brother instead. It's one of them comforting another after he gets in trouble. It's sharing a snack they wanted to keep for themselves, or handing down a prized Pokémon card, or sending each other text messages that always end up with 'love you', or staying up late at night hanging out in one another's bedrooms just talking. It's doing all these things, even though they've all, at one time or another, proclaimed in a fit of annoyance to 'hate' their brothers.
The best gift I ever gave my sons was the magic of brotherhood. But really, that brotherhood has been just as big as a gift to me. In their relationships, I see the kind of future I hope for them — where they lean on each other even when they're all grown with families of their own. And I see a reassurance, even on days when I feel like I'm failing as a mom (and there are plenty), that something is going right.
Brotherly love is intricate and complex, and not even a whole novel's worth of words could ever do it justice. Brothers are one another's worst enemies and greatest allies. They are built-in playmates, and at other times, they're sparring partners. They're each other's first best friend, learning valuable lessons about compassion, love, forgiveness, and compromise just by virtue of being brothers. And if you've been privileged enough to witness this bond, you know it's deep and indestructible, wonderful and beautiful.
… Even if there's some pummeling involved once in a while.
Launch Gallery: Celebrity Mothers Who Love Being 'Boy Moms'
Best of SheKnows
Tween & Teen Slang 2025: A Definitive Guide to 'What the Hellyante' Your Kid Is Saying Right Now
Celebrity Moms Who Were Honest About Miscarriage & Pregnancy Loss — Because It Matters
Every Single Time Shemar Moore Proved He's the Proudest First-Time Girl Dad
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cosmopolitan
2 hours ago
- Cosmopolitan
Real reason why Matty Healy wasn't at bandmate George's wedding to Charli XCX, after he's missing from pics
ICYMI: Charli XCX is officially a married woman! The Brat superstar and overall pop icon married her partner George Daniel in an intimate ceremony at Hackney Town Hall, London on 19th July 2025. The inhabitants of East London were gagged to see music royalty on full display as Charli cosied up to George, the drummer in the band The 1975 and a producer and songwriter, in what appeared to be a white Cora mini dress by Vivienne Westwood, white Jimmy Choo slingback heels, wraparound black shades and white veil as the duo posed for pics on the town hall's steps. It was a cute, cosy ceremony with twenty of the couple's close friends and family in appearance. However, some fans of The 1975 were shocked to see that George's bandmate and close friend Matty Healy was not in attendance. After doing some sleuthing, it appears that Matty was in LA to attend a screening of I Know What You Did Last Summer, in which his fiancée Gabbriette stars. It seems like Matty was supporting his partner during an unfortunate scheduling clash with the wedding, however, this is just speculation and has yet to be confirmed by any of the parties involved. What we can say is that there appears to be no ill-feeling as Matty was reportedly in attendance at George's stag do, which allegedly took place in Ibiza, according to The Sun. It is also rumoured that Charli and George are planning another, larger wedding celebration in Sicily later in the year - and it seems likely that Matty will be in attendance there. One thing we can, for sure, confirm? Well, according to Charli's very own TikTok, George shed a tear when he saw her walk down the aisle! Suddenly, we believe in love...
CNET
3 hours ago
- CNET
Air Fryer S'mores Dip? The Sweet Treat That Doesn't Require a Fire Pit
We've all been guilty of doomscrolling on our favorite social media platform, but what happens when this leads to an insightful discovery? A year ago, I was scrolling through my #FYP (for you page) on TikTok, and this snack dip popped up. Not only was I intrigued, but I was also shocked because how could something so simple yet clever be so satisfyingly nostalgic and tasty? TikTok users were also shocked that they hadn't thought of making this snack before. However, I was happily surprised by how easy it looked to whip up. TikTok user Cecilie Bak Klemens shared the video of her making the mouthwatering dip in her air fryer, and that post has since garnered more than 75 million views and a host of hilariously relatable comments, including some from well-known brands. "All of a sudden we know what we're making for breakfast, lunch and dinner tomorrow," Pinterest commented on the now-viral video. I knew I had to try this snack, and I'm happy to report that it was as simple as the 12-second TikTok made it seem. Here's how you can make this s'mores dip whenever you're craving it -- no fire pit needed. Read more: Best Air Fryers of 2025 How to make air fryer s'mores dip Step 1: Line your air fryer with parchment paper that's trimmed to the size of your basket, or use a removable air fryer basket that can be cleaned separately. (This step is optional but will cut down on cleaning time.) Step 2: Place marshmallows inside the air fryer, along with chunks of the chocolate of your choice. (We used classic Hershey's chocolate.) You can use as many, or as few, marshmallows as you like, then add an equal amount of chocolate pieces. Corin Cesaric/CNET Step 3: Cook at 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until the marshmallows are golden brown. Step 4: Let the dip cool slightly, then enjoy it with graham crackers. The outside of your s'mores dip will be slightly crunchy and golden brown, and the inside will be perfectly gooey. Corin Cesaric/CNET If the dip hardens while you're eating it, you can pop it back in the air fryer for a few minutes until you get the desired consistency again. Read more: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About Air Fryers (but Were Afraid to Ask) How to clean your air fryer Although this recipe seems like it would create quite the mess, using a separate removable baking pan or parchment paper makes the clean up is a breeze. However, if you have some overflow or your air fryer is simply due for its cleaning, follow these three simple steps. Air fryer s'mores dip FAQ Can you make traditional s'mores using an air fryer? Yes! If you want to skip the dip and make your s'mores whole, you can place the bottom graham cracker, chocolate and marshmallow in the air fryer (don't forget the parchment paper!) and toast it for a few minutes. When it's done, use another graham cracker to squish your creation together. Is there anything you can't cook in the air fryer? While the air fryer perfectly cooks a lot of things, some are just better when made with different appliances, such as leafy greens and large cuts of meat. Here are six more foods that shouldn't be cooked in your air fryer. More air fryer recipes to try
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Why Are Cats Obsessed With Concrete Slabs?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Cat owners have been descending on hardware stores on an unusual mission—picking up a concrete slab, typically for patios and garden paths, for their feline friend to lounge on. Costing as little as $2, simple blocks of concrete are bringing unexpected joy to cats everywhere as owners share adorable reactions on social media. Why Are People Buying Concrete for Cats? For many pet owners, the trend is about enrichment, comfort, and fun. Indoor cats, in particular, seem to benefit from the novelty of the cool, textured surface. "I just decided to hop on the trend because I usually avoid trends, but this one seemed like a fun little idea," Zach Hotaling from Atlanta told Newsweek. He recently shared the moment his cats Nanaki and JoJo were surprised with the concrete treat. Pictures from TikTok of cat owners with a concrete slab, left, for their felines, right. Pictures from TikTok of cat owners with a concrete slab, left, for their felines, right. @renusdelph & @boujeemomof3 - TikTok "My cats are indoor only, so might as well bring the outdoors to them," Hotaling said. In a video on TikTok, he shared the moment his feline were delighted by the gift of concrete. Gracie Garcia from Texas had similar motivations when she picked up a piece of concrete for her cat Louie. "I saw people online talking about how concrete stays cool, and, since my cat loves lying on cool surfaces in the summer, I thought a concrete slab would be an easy, inexpensive way to keep them comfy—and they love it," Garcia told Newsweek. Why Do Cats Like Concrete? Cat behaviorists say there are plenty of reasons cats might be drawn to a humble concrete block—from its shape and height to the texture and temperature. "If you have an indoor cat, and space, then buying a slab of concrete is a fun idea," Celia Haddon, cat behaviorist and author of Being Your Cat, told Newsweek. "It shouldn't cost a lot, and you might be able to just find one in builders' skip for free. Put it in a sunlit place if you want it to warm up. It will retain the heat well." There is a psychological appeal too. "One of the funniest things in cat behavior is the way they like sitting in boxes—not just real boxes but rectangular shapes, which give an illusion of being a box," Haddon said. Louie the cat, left, checks out the concrete slab, and JoJo, right, performs a concrete sniff test. Louie the cat, left, checks out the concrete slab, and JoJo, right, performs a concrete sniff test. @renusdelph & @boujeemomof3 - TikTok "There was a special bit of research with the fun title of 'If I fits I sits: A citizen science investigation into illusory contour susceptibility in domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus),' which concluded that cats have 'contour comprehension,' so that they will sit inside the illusion of a square," Haddon said. "I would say 'If a concrete square slab fits, your cat sits.'" Anita Kelsey, feline behaviorist and author of The Little Book of Extraordinary Cats, echoed the sentiment. "Concrete can be particularly appealing because of its temperature-regulating properties. The texture of concrete also plays a role, as it's rough and scratchy, which some cats find soothing or stimulating," she told Newsweek. JoJo, left, and Louie, right, enjoying their concrete slabs. JoJo, left, and Louie, right, enjoying their concrete slabs. @renusdelph & @boujeemomof3 - TikTok Is Concrete Safe for Cats? While the popular trend of buying concrete for cats is mostly a good idea, there are some considerations. "Ensure the concrete is clean and has not come from a construction site or any area where it may have been exposed to chemicals, oils, or other harmful substances," said Kelsey. It is also important to keep an eye on the temperature of the concrete itself. "Concrete in direct sunlight can become extremely hot and may burn your cat's paw pads or contribute to overheating," Kelsey said. "While cats are generally good at self-regulating their body temperature and will likely move if it becomes uncomfortable, it's still best to provide shade, allow access during cooler times of the day, and monitor the surface temperature regularly." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
