After Max was born, everyone asked me how the twins are dealing with the new baby and I was proud and relieved to say that they were coping amazingly well. They had just been through a move to a new house, which in itself could be quite stressful (especially if you are you are the mother who also happens to be three weeks away from giving birth, but we wont go into that now), and a few weeks later they had a new baby sibling. They went from being the baby, to having to grow up. Some (my mother and everyone else I know) might say 'about bloody time' as they are four years old, but they were and still are my babies!
It is true though, they did cope with it remarkably well. I have very adaptable kids, as long as they have their mother and father around, they can cope with pretty much anything.
However, things have regressed slightly. Nothing drastic, but most definitely noticeable. As in you'd have to be entering rigor mortis not to notice. Kate has taken to sucking her thumb, something she has never done before. She now sucks it all the time. I am not quite sure what to do about it - I've chosen to ignore it completely but Marko tells her to stop doing it. Any suggestions from the peanut gallery? Ignore or ask her stop before it becomes even more of a habit?
As for my very easy-going, not-at-all sensitive child (YEAH RIGHT!) Adam - he has taken to talking in baby talk (sooooo uncute) and also asks to go 'uppy' all the time. My children are about 7 foot tall and I am about a hundred years old with a bad back, a terrible combination to go 'uppy'.
Adam's OT also mentioned that Adam is being a little more 'sensitive' lately - "Are you still brushing him?" she asked. Um, not as much as I used to (never) but I will start it up again (where is that damn brush!!)
Then two days ago we had an unfortunate incident at school. Adam bit another child on the arm. The other child would not give Adam the puzzle piece he wanted so Adam launched over and sunk his teeth in the other child's arm. Sigh. It is not a nice to hear, that your child bit another child. I would far rather my child get bitten than be the bitee. I know it happens, but I felt terrible afterwards. And what makes it worse is that the mother of the other boy seems as if she is really pissed off with us! I called her immediately after school but her phone just rang. I left a message on her phone apologizing and told her that I had a long talk with Adam about it, and that he is really sorry. I then made Adam write a note (I held his hand) to the little boy saying sorry. We even printed a picture of a tractor on it!! I've heard nothing back. Which makes me feel terrible. I understand she must have been upset that her child got a bite (Adam didn't break the skin, thank goodness), but it happens and I don't think I would hold it against the child or the parents. Blech. I feel all anxious just thinking about it.
So, assvice and opinions needed: Do I ignore the thumb sucking? Do I ignore the baby talk (actually, both kids are now doing it) or can I say "stop talking like a baby, it's very irritating". Please can I say that? Because it is VERY uncute hearing a 4 year old talk like a baby. And what about the uppy? Is it ok to say "go ask your father, your mother is old?" And what do I do about the mother of the child who got bitten? Do I try say sorry again? Do I arrive at school early in hopes I never have to see her again? If you were that child's mother, how long would you stay cross for?
Who said this mothering thing was easy and uncomplicated? Because I would like to find that person and spank their bottoms.