A taste of the future
MrZ said the other day that, should this pregnancy continue, we will have to finally face what parents of normal siblings face: Sibling Rivalry. LilZ and NikkiZ are too far apart in age to be at odds over toys or attention. LilZ is more than happy for me to give NikkiZ attention because then he gets some privacy for once. They don’t like the same toys so they don’t have to share. In other words, they like each other. A lot.
Of course, what many don’t realize is, we’re already sampling a little bit of that. With her five four-legged siblings. When NikkiZ sees any of our pets in my lap or trying to get some attention, she adamantly claims, “My momma!” She’ll drop whatever she’s doing and try to push the animal out of my lap. Or she’ll try to squeeze in. Many times she’ll emphatically yell, “Mooooooove, Sweetie!” and push the dog as far away from me as possible.
Any bets on how the next few years are going to play out?
She will think the new baby is just another animal and try to push it out of your lap! Poor BabyZ!
I bet she will be fine. You are how far along now? Sorry, I am trying to calculate it in my head and I just can’t remember. I’m too tired.
Here is the point! She will be older when BabyZ is born. I bet she will be a big “help”.
Hey, I just thought of something. Are you gonna add one of those Baby is … widgets to your blog?
Cause I can’t decide if that is something you would do or not. I think it’s cute. And I would totally do it on mine. But I don’t know if you would.
And if you all will excuse me, I am going to go lay on the couch until the phone guy gets here.
I think she will be fine. My friends had a baby about 7 months ago and their just turned 4 year old is fine….he does love giving his little brother kisses galore, sure he has his moments of play with me and play with me now. But they aren’t ever too bad. Of course I just babysit them for a few hours about once a week, but still….It may become more of an issue when the younger one becomes more mobile and much more vocal.
Mine are 3 1/2 yrs apart and are opposite sexes – they still fight all the time! Once BabyZ gets old enough to fend for itself, just sit back and don’t interfere unless there’s blood on the walls
Yes, there will be some sibling rivalry, BUT – you are going to be in the rare situation of having 3 children, but not having middle child syndrome. When the 3 kids are relatively close in age, the middle one always seems to get pulled back and forth between the other two. I’ll bet that doesn’t happen so much here. Plus Nikki is so attached to Mr. Z and Lil Z that she might not have it quite as hard as other kids. When mommy’s not available, she can emotionally manipulate Daddy or Big Bro. The kid really has it made.
(PS – when I was typing this, I literally knocked on wood. As if that makes a difference. But you know… just in case. Just knocked again. Can’t be too careful)
Uh-oh. Maybe you want to start practicing with dolls?
Uh oh! I have a feeling LilZ will play a big part in helping NikkiZ get over the new LittleZ joining the family!
There will adjusting. There will be manipulation. There will be guilt. Gah ….. being emotionally, physically, & mentally responsible for kids is tuff stuff. Grace still isn’t over Jackson effing up her style but she is getting better
Who knows? You might luck out and they will love each, but both be at odds with your four legged children
Will she cuddle and care for her baby doll while you take care of the baby? She’ll be about the right age for learning how to share by the time the baby is born. She’s also old enough to learn ‘gentle’. I think she’ll figure out quickly the difference between her baby brother/sister and a pet and if she absolutely needs one-on-one mommy time then Mr. Z or LilZ can help with the baby. Big brothers are so good at helping, but then you already knew that!
I guess that’s better than the other way around. You know, with Sweetie butting NikkiZ out of your lap. That’s kind of what I’m scared is going to happen with my pups.
Any bets on how the next few years will play out?
Hah…sucker bet…got a whole blog devoted to it!
Our 4 kids are 2-3 years apart and there’s 7 1/2 years between the oldest and youngest. But, I haven’t sold either of ‘em, yet. Just, don’t read today’s post; ‘kay. Lest, I leave you with little, or NO comforting words…what…so…evuh!
Still. I’m guessing you’ll do just fine.
LMAO!!… As a mom of 4 kids…and mt oldest os only 3 years older then my second oldest…and 2 of girls are only 17 months apart..The rivalry are here was and occasionally still is pretty bad, lol… still is. Somedays I have wanted to find the nearest cliff and jump, lol. You’re going to do just fine though. You get through.
Geeze I just looked at my last comment and I am wondering what language I was trying to speak, lol. Sorry for the typeos and sentences that make no sense, lol.
I am a new reader and I love your site. I love your writing and honestly feel like im a member of your family, even though im black. Anyway, im cheering for BabyZ and praying that everything works out wonderfully!!!
Well, just think that when they are both in their late teens, they’ll totally be BFFs.
Gret minds think alike
http://ashleygillihan.blogspot.com/2006/05/taste-of-future.html
My sister and I loathed each other…but only a few short years until college, and then they’ll get along just fine!
Mine are 6 (g) and 3.5 (b) and it has started within the last several months. They fight about EVERYTHING. It is always the worst in the car. “Stop touching me” “Stop looking at me” – blah blah blah. It drives me up a freakin wall!
My sister was famous in our family for smacking my newborn cousin on the head with her shoe. Later, she started liking him.
I love that, “Moooooooooove, Sweetie!” heh heh.
As the morning has progressed I have had the joy of watching my two children play together wonderfully. That’s not to say they don’t fight. They do! They are twenty months apart(almost to the DAY!) and when my oldest was little, let’s just say it wasn’t always pretty.
But now? Now is a whole ‘nother story. Now they are friends, partner’s in crime, and part-time snitches. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Oh DANG!! I hadn’t thought about that yet! My heart is already going out to you… And YOU KNOW it! hahaha
Man, how fun! I don’t have that yet with the age gap between my kids, but I got my big son a doll (don’t worry, it was masculine looking) and he practiced on that. So far, so good.
But yeah, good luck.
the zootbryo is definitely going to have some stiff competition from nikkiz. and sister’s got that red hair thing going: i know from experience…we usually get what we want.
I think she’ll adjust
But those things she does with the dogs sound awful cute, too heh.