Comments on: Babying the youngest http://www.parentingbytrialanderror.com/2009/05/09/babying-the-youngest/ flexibility in raising kids Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:11:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Sarah E. Ludwig http://www.parentingbytrialanderror.com/2009/05/09/babying-the-youngest/comment-page-1/#comment-546 Sarah E. Ludwig Thu, 14 May 2009 00:57:51 +0000 http://parentingbytrialanderror.com/?p=703#comment-546 Kathy, that's probably good that you and your husband are at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of birth order. Good for your kids, at any rate! I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. You're right -- the older child becomes "the older child" when you're pregnant. I remember when my girls were 3 going on 4 and I was pregnant with Cody, I always carried them upstairs to bed. But once I got big enough that it was uncomfortable, I forced them to walk up themselves. I felt bad about it, for some reason. Now, Cody is 6 (and a fairly big boy for his age) and I usually carry him downstairs on school mornings because he's so sleepy and out-of-it. I carry Logan too (separately), but only because he likes to feel like a baby. That's going to have to end soon! I never would have thought to do that with the girls because they were "too old." Ha. Kathy, that’s probably good that you and your husband are at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of birth order. Good for your kids, at any rate!

I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one. You’re right — the older child becomes “the older child” when you’re pregnant. I remember when my girls were 3 going on 4 and I was pregnant with Cody, I always carried them upstairs to bed. But once I got big enough that it was uncomfortable, I forced them to walk up themselves. I felt bad about it, for some reason.

Now, Cody is 6 (and a fairly big boy for his age) and I usually carry him downstairs on school mornings because he’s so sleepy and out-of-it. I carry Logan too (separately), but only because he likes to feel like a baby. That’s going to have to end soon! I never would have thought to do that with the girls because they were “too old.” Ha.

]]> By: Kathy http://www.parentingbytrialanderror.com/2009/05/09/babying-the-youngest/comment-page-1/#comment-545 Kathy Mon, 11 May 2009 16:26:02 +0000 http://parentingbytrialanderror.com/?p=703#comment-545 Yes, I am babying my younger son more than I did my older son at the same age. Before I got pregnant the second time, I read something somebody wrote, that your first-born doesn't become your "older child" when you give birth to your second, but rather when you become pregnant. It's true. I started unconsciously, subconsciously, or intentionally urging my older son towards more independence, and I haven't done this with my younger son (who is about to turn 3). I'm starting to get the "baby urge" again, and as I think of it, I get the same mental attitude towards my younger son that I got towards my older son when he was 10 m/o. Of course, my younger son is a lot more independent and mature (at the age of three) than my older son was (at less than a year), but I can feel myself doing it just the same. I think it's actually a good thing for me to do, because I have been letting the baby stage "linger" in some not so good ways. Plus, my nephew who is between my two kids in age is my sister's youngest and last child (vasectomy) and she has been babying him somethin' fierce! I'm also the baby of my family, so I sympathize more with my younger son when he is being teased by my older son. And my husband is one of first-born twins, so he very much sympathizes with our older son! Yes, I am babying my younger son more than I did my older son at the same age. Before I got pregnant the second time, I read something somebody wrote, that your first-born doesn’t become your “older child” when you give birth to your second, but rather when you become pregnant. It’s true. I started unconsciously, subconsciously, or intentionally urging my older son towards more independence, and I haven’t done this with my younger son (who is about to turn 3). I’m starting to get the “baby urge” again, and as I think of it, I get the same mental attitude towards my younger son that I got towards my older son when he was 10 m/o. Of course, my younger son is a lot more independent and mature (at the age of three) than my older son was (at less than a year), but I can feel myself doing it just the same. I think it’s actually a good thing for me to do, because I have been letting the baby stage “linger” in some not so good ways. Plus, my nephew who is between my two kids in age is my sister’s youngest and last child (vasectomy) and she has been babying him somethin’ fierce!

I’m also the baby of my family, so I sympathize more with my younger son when he is being teased by my older son. And my husband is one of first-born twins, so he very much sympathizes with our older son!

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