As Ellie and I walked through Target the other day, I suggested that she could pick out a "DeeDee" (little blanket) for the new baby. She informed me that the baby wouldn't need a DeeDee because it could share Bear.
Also, she's been sick this week. Today she said, "I hope this goes away fast before the baby comes so the baby doesn't get sick."
I know it won't all be sweet and roses like this when the baby is really here, but it's at least encouraging. I'm nervous about having two because as an only child, I have no experience with how to handle sibling relationships. In almost everything else for parenting, I've been able to look at my own parents' example and follow what they did. For siblings, I feel like I'm kind of on my own. Isaac is the oldest of five, but other than his brother who is two years younger, his family is unconventional enough that the sibling stuff doesn't apply as much.
I don't know where to draw the lines for bickering and fighting and name-calling and wrestling. I'm awful at those. All my experience is as a teacher, where none if it is ever okay. But it sounds like in the real world of the family, it would be impossible (and possibly counterproductive?) to enforce those lines. I guess I'll be learning and growing a lot as a parent these next couple years (and decades).
2 comments:
This is exactly why I'm terrified to have another child. Also, since I lost my mother so young, I have thought about how terrible it would be if something happened to me and I left more than one child behind. One day, someone said to me, "But if you had more than one child and G-d forbid something did happen to you, at least then your children have each other." I guess it helps to look at things from all angles.
You will figure it out as you go, but you already knew that. I am a little lost as to what to say to encourage you. Maybe I will come up with something really profound later.
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