[nawlinsmom]

Just wanted to say that my hats are off to all of you whom parent more than 1 child. As many of you know I have been searching for another child to add to our family since my son turned 2 and 1/2, we had a failed match last March. Anyway, yesterday I watched my nieces six week old daughter all day and most of the night for a total of about 11 hours, while her parents worked on their flooded post Katrina home, oh my gosh, I was a basket case. It wasn't the baby that got to me but my son was just horrible. I am sure it would get better should we bring a baby home but it was so hard, I was completely exhausted and he acted like I never saw him before just wild. I know he gets alot, (most of my time) attention but we very often have children over, my nices and nephews to play and sleep over, this was the youngest we ever had though so I guess he was just freaking out about all of the attention she needed. How do you all do it? The beginning must be just crazy? Any advise, at this point I don't even think I want to continue my pursuit for number 2.

[shoeshopping]

Quote: Just wanted to say that my hats are off to all of you whom parent more than 1 child. As many of you know I have been searching for another child to add to our family since my son turned 2 and 1/2, we had a failed match last March. Anyway, yesterday I watched my nieces six week old daughter all day and most of the night for a total of about 11 hours, while her parents worked on their flooded post Katrina home, oh my gosh, I was a basket case. It wasn't the baby that got to me but my son was just horrible. I am sure it would get better should we bring a baby home but it was so hard, I was completely exhausted and he acted like I never saw him before just wild. I know he gets alot, (most of my time) attention but we very often have children over, my nices and nephews to play and sleep over, this was the youngest we ever had though so I guess he was just freaking out about all of the attention she needed. How do you all do it? The beginning must be just crazy? Any advise, at this point I don't even think I want to continue my pursuit for number 2.

I think it was the baby's age that prompted your son to act out a little. I have a son that is almost 2 1/2 and since May of this year, I have been talking to him about the baby, whipped out a few books about babies and as my belly has grown, he knows what is going on in there so it won't be a HUGE shock when his little sister is born.

I have three children (fourth due soon) and there is A LOT of preparation in letting the little ones know a baby is on the way. It takes a lot of planning and organization before the big day of arrival. I really think it depends on the ages of the children as far as how rocky things are in the beginning.

I am sure your son will be GREAT as a big brother when the time comes.

[Indy]

I also experienced the same behavior each time a new son joined the family. The "pecking order" has to be re-established. So, everyone is trying to re-determine where they "fit" in the family. They may possibly be having thoughts that they may have been replaced and are reacting in the only manner that they know. Just some thoughts, nothing more.

Just make sure that before you add to your family, prepare your son. Talk about it, as much as you can with a 2 1/2 year old. Now that I think about it, how would you do that? I would think that you would continue to spend time entertaining little ones to help him (and you).

Good luck!

[celebratewewill]

i have no children yet, but i spend a few days a week with my best friend and her 2 BEAUTIFUL boys. they are 2 years and 2 days apart. before the baby came, evan was the center, and i mean, CENTER of not only his parents' attention, buy my husband and i as well. he is my special little man. but when little cole came along in may, this sweet, gentle, sensitive evan would poke, scratch, and basically try to kill his little brother (i don't mean like a crazy-blood thirsty kid, just like, hmmm, what would happen if i put a pillow on his face?). his poor mother was so taken aback. she couldn't believe how suddenly aggressive evan appeared to be. i couldn't either, but since i was reading alot about adoption, and it talked about how children act in the beginning with a new sibling, i reassured her that evan was acting this way b/c he felt comfortable of his parents love that he could act the way he felt. about 2 months later, evan stopped doing anything even remotely aggressive, and now he LOOOVES cole. he loves to make him laugh, he'll go and hug and kiss him for no reason, even if he doesn't know he's being watched. he talks to him, and cole ADORES evan. so i assume from this that it is very rough in the beginning, and on top of being sleep deprived, you have a new challenge with your older one, but it passes. i hope this helped even a little!!