Being Pregnant
Baby Baggage
Jackson was 2 when I took this picture. I pull it out when it's most fitting.
Jackson had his first “NO, I DON’T WANT THE BABY. I WANNA BEEEEEE THE BABY!!!!” meltdown on the day we moved into our new house. I had been thinking how lucky we were that Jackson was so excited about being a big brother and about my growing belly. Apparently I jinxed myself though.
We were sitting on our new front porch, watching the crew haul our half-busted belongings off the moving truck and into our home. My husband sipped coffee, I munched on a croissant (ok, 2 croissants), and Jackson demanded his toys be removed from boxes “NOW.”
It was at that moment in time when Jackson spotted his super fantastic walker from when he was a wee babe. His walker (which he LIVED IN) is in the shape of a red convertible car, complete with side mirrors and a snack tray. I *may* have loved it more than he did.
Since Jackson never crawled, this walker saved my life. He went everywhere in it. He spent his first birthday party walking around NOT in the walker, and yet, the walker was still front and center at the party.
I shouldn’t have been surprised when Jackson bawled and screamed when the moving crew plunked his beloved red car walker in the “to storage unit” pile, but I was. I was shocked actually, probably because I don’t really think he remembers it. Maybe he does… but memories don’t begin until age 2, right? I dunno.
We tried to explain to him, “Jackson doesn’t need the walker anymore.” And “that’s what Jackson used to learn how to walk.” And then I suppose I made the mistake of saying, “That’s what the baby will use when you teach the baby how to walk.”
NO BUENO! He lost it, and I mean, LOST IT.
He sobbed, sat down in his car seat that had been placed on our front porch, crossed his arms and yelled, “IT’S NOT FOR THE BABY. I’M THE BABY AGAIN. IT’S MINE.”
I just looked at my husband with my mouth wide open and had absolutely no idea how to respond to Jackson’s tantrum. Paul got a different toy to distract him with, which worked, and I’ve been asking myself ever since, what do you do when your kid already has baggage about the arrival of a new baby?
Related Article: My child’s attachment to her stuffed lovey scares me.
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2 Comments
marcella commented on Oct 27 11 at 10:32 ammy best friend had twins as seconds, and her daughter (3 at the time) threw tantrums all the time every time. when the baby is born, involve jackson in taking care of him/her. the more responsible and grown-up the older kid is made to feel, we’ve found, the more likely they are to like the new kid. as for right now, i’m torn between the thought-process of spending more time with the older child to make up for the time that will be lost, or spending less time with them, so they get used to it. lucky i’m not on kid 2 yet…
Megan commented on Nov 04 11 at 2:49 pmI just had my second about a month ago, my oldest turned 3 at the end of July. During my pregnancy Jameson, my first, would throw tantrums, saying he was the baby and he loved us more. Well, now that his baby brother is here Jameson won’t have anything else to do with anyone else. P: He LOVES his little brother and is a better big brother than I could have asked for. I wouldn’t sweat it, unless you think Jackson could possibly physically hurt the baby. Otherwise, I’m sure Jackson will get used to the idea of having a new baby in the house and will be an awesome big brother! Just don’t play favourites it gets nowhere. (:
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