Hello Steemsters it's good to be back!!
So it's been six months since the birth of our second child and... well fck me, that was tough.
We were always torn about adding a second child to our family, both my wife and I are only kids and well, we knew no different. But looking at our crazy girl, who was three at the time, well if there was ever a little girl who needed a sibling, it was her. So along came the second and we thought we'd got this parenting thing sorted. Hahahaha, ooh hahahah, how wrong were we.
If you're thinking about having a second child:
The second can be nothing like the first.
The first may have come out great, well behaved a column of respect and good behaviour, smart, funny and sensible. Other parents look on your kid with jealousy. You may take a step back and pat yourselves on the back, well done us! What great parents we are.
Then the second one comes.
And the second one has their own itinerary, you try as super successful parents an employ the same parenting as you did the first, because, well that all worked out didn't it. Well, as they say, God laughs at a man with a plan.
Sleep? Forget it.
Your first may have had the sleep thing nailed, then the second comes and all of a sudden, by freakish coincidence sleep issues appear. The second is waking up every two ours, the first wakes up every other hour. I hope you don't have anything planned for a while.
Jealousy!
Regardless of how touchy feely you are including number one in everything you do, put simply, they used to have 100% of your time, now they barely can wrest away 25% of your time. If you have relations close, parents are ideal, this is the time for them to step up and be present, although "I want mummy" is still a common cry around the place.
Memories?
Remember those beautiful baby moments you had with the first? They don't exist, they've been washed and coloured by a wash of hormones and fond memories, the second will burp and fart their way into your life robbing you of sleep and patience making you doubt your recollection.
1+1 = 3
"Lets have a second" it can't be too much work, we already have one so it'll be a little bit more work? I've heard that.
The first will ramp up their attention seeking (see 3) the first is, well a baby and need more work than you remembered (how do I change a diaper again....? Oh jesus christ, he's just pissed all over me, our daughter never did that! Whats that weird thing on his willy, I don't know... well you've got one... yeah but not like that! He's just poo'ed in the bath! I'm so tired I can't see.)
So, we've been six months out and we're back, sort of. We have stabilised the ship and got some semblance of normal back again, but it has been tough at times, our new little guy is funny and cute and really has been no trouble at all over being a baby.
We grab the rare moment from time to time and see our 4 year old playing with her little brother and listen to him giggling, which starts her giggling. Then we hear her telling him "You're my best friend for ever" and it melts our hearts and brings a tear to our eye.
Then we don't even question having a 2nd child, we just question why we waited so long.
