When we were expecting our second child our major concern was about how our 6 year old daughter would take it. She is at an age where she can understand some things if we explain. But having been the centre of our attention for so long, we were not sure how she would feel about sharing everything (including our attention) with her sibling.
Our friends gave us lots of suggestions and we were talking about the arrival of the baby so that she would be mentally prepared. We knew inside our heart that the real challenge was after the baby was born. Each child has his/ her own way of reacting to things.
Our daughter made it very clear that she wanted a baby sister. Reason: boys don’t understand her games and don’t play with her. I agreed partially with her logic, but I also told her that we don’t have a choice. God decides what’s in store for us. She refused to accept the possibility that it could be a boy. We fell in line with her temporarily. We thought we would be able to convince her later.
Now we have new trouble on hand. Our daughter keeps insisting the she be a part of everything that is concerned with the baby. She wants to hold him and play with him, give him a bath, powder him and dress him up. I suspect she treats him just like another Barbie doll.
Well, the first hurdle is crossed. Now lets see …
Hi...its me again and probably i am reverting on quite an older post, partially my miss that haven't been back here for quite a while...
ReplyDeleteanyways firstly congratulations on the perfect family, a girl and a boy as most of them love they had it that way. Saying this, let me add, not-saying any other combination to be not-so-perfect as its all relative.
What really prompted me to put in here was one to convey best wishes and other on the last part that if the elder one at 6 was treating the baby as any doll... i would think not so true, not when at 6 as i did see instances of 3 yr old ones taking just borns carried in strollers to be perhaps dolls, from the way they were playing with them as against with real dolls.
Like, taking a snack or empty bottle of milk near the face and taking it off back quickly, same way with both real one and a doll... thinking they have given them the food they need and that the doll or which ever has also had it to its hearts content : )
However, with the 5+ ones you would see them trying to make sure the baby is indeed having what they have to offer (even a hard krack-jack or parle-G!) as they think a baby can have anything that they themselves can bite on and understand they have to actually bite-on to say have had it, and give that additional time to baby when offering unlike with a doll that they know doesnt really bite and do not give that time when offering. However, they fail to understand that the baby is not capable of biting it on (no teeth, what they cannot see aparently) and when attempting, the parent has to run to rescue and make the elder one learn about the fact.
Just try this out by asking elder one to give out a bottle of milk to baby and also to a doll next to it and see how they react with each.
Do it with a 3 yr old or less & a 5 yr old or more...
Kids are smarter than we think...
Btw, does saying all this by me seem like i have about a couple of kids running around in my house!
Ha ha... i am not even wishing to that end... with the one at 4 this Dec, that i have being the best little cutie i (rather 'we' with spouse) could ever have!.
with best wishes and blessings to both the little ones...
- Hi...its me : )
Thanks for your wishes...
ReplyDeleteYes, kids certainly are smarter. My daughter is past that stage now. She is now very protective of her younger brother.
No matter what kind of mood she is in, she is the first one to rush to his side as soon as he cries.
Each child reacts in a different way to the same situation. She managed to handle this situation better than we thought. Touchwood...