Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site astrovax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!princeton!astrovax!elt From: elt@astrovax.UUCP (Ed Turner) Newsgroups: net.kids Subject: Preparing the Way for No. 2 Message-ID: <403@astrovax.UUCP> Date: Thu, 26-Jul-84 10:16:53 EDT Article-I.D.: astrovax.403 Posted: Thu Jul 26 10:16:53 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 28-Jul-84 20:14:28 EDT Organization: Princeton Univ. Astrophysics Lines: 22 My wife and I have a son who is 6 years old and are happily anticipating the arrival of a second child in November. The issue on which I seek the net's "wisdom" is how to help our 6 year old prepare for the arrival of his sibling and the inevitable impact on his life. Generally I would be interested in any tips on how to promote good sibling relations, problems to anticipate, advantages or disadvantages of a fairly large age difference, etc. Both my wife and I are a bit apprehensive about this issue, perhaps because neither of us had satisfactory relationships with our siblings as children. I should mention that our son already knows that a baby is on the way and is *very* happy about the prospect. Of course this theoretical enthusiasm will undoubted be dampened (at least at times) by the reality of jealousies, etc. One experienced (3 grown children) friend even suggested that we tell our son that he should expect to be "mad at the baby" sometimes so that he will not feel guilty about any negative emotions he may have. Mostly we have told him how much fun it will be to be a "big brother", an idea he responds to well as I mentioned before. Ed Turner astrovax!elt