Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Tek) 9/26/83; site tekecs.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!orca!tekecs!janr From: janr@tekecs.UUCP (Jan Rowell) Newsgroups: net.kids Subject: Re: Preparing the Way for No. 2 Message-ID: <3955@tekecs.UUCP> Date: Fri, 3-Aug-84 23:27:57 EDT Article-I.D.: tekecs.3955 Posted: Fri Aug 3 23:27:57 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 5-Aug-84 07:43:21 EDT References: <403@astrovax.UUCP> Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR Lines: 25 I think it's great that your older child is so positive about the baby. My two kids are exactly 6 years apart -- Pete just turned 7, and Katie is now a year old. Although he's basically a pretty secure kid, Pete had some real anxiety before Katie was born. In fact, the night before I went into labor, he started talking about committing suicide or running away from home because he was sure no one would love him after the baby came. (This came at a time of great family stress -- moving, pregnancy complications, his having been away at my parents' house for 3 days.) Needless to say, we were pretty freaked out by it. Fortunately, she was born the next day and he was able to see that his fantasies were *not* realistic! He's been a great big brother to her, and she absolutely adores him. I think because he's so much older, he is somewhat parental to her -- not in a bossy way, just sort of doting and paternalistic. It's pretty sweet. We've been happy having our kids far apart. The one negative I can think of is that it's harder to find family activities when the kids are far apart. One thing I think is important is to continue to do things just with your older child. Good luck!