A working mother's daily journal about raising her son Alexander,
parenting, and being a mom, woman, and wife [posted by Dr. Hobson]

Below is an example I find charming from this working mom's journal
(Spring, 1998, thru an AOL-linked site).

"When is the baby coming out?" asked Alex last night. He seemed a little impatient. So far, Mom's baby-in-the-belly has been fascinating but inconvenient. It has gradually made her lap disappear, tires her out more than usual, and keeps her from rough-housing liberally on the living room floor. Plus it's all too easy to make a rash move and bump Mom in the stomach, and then she snaps,"Ouch!"

When the new baby comes out I don't want to see her," whispered Alex sulkily when I told him firmly for the third time to stop jumping against me and pretending to bite my cheek

Little does Alex know just how inconvenient this baby will be once it's finally out.

"I don't know Alex; the baby will come out when she's ready. Probably some time in the next two weeks," I said, knowing that this time frame was absolutely meaningless to Alex, who refers to events taking place months ago as "yesterday."

I have learned to let Alex introduce all talk of the baby, because already he grows jealous and grumpy if I do. If I suggest that we read one of the many "New Baby" books lying around the house, for example, he always refuses. Last weekend, Alex had trouble playing with his younger cousin Heloise, who... knows how to tease a proud first child....at least fifty percent of the time, Alex and Heloise are either grabbing toys, refusing to share, or exploding in outraged, hurt tears over some perceived sleight. As I awkwardly intervened too much ... too litle ...trying to find the right balance, I realized that a whole new set of diplomatic mothering muscles would soon be in order.

"When the new baby comes out I don't want to see her," whispered Alex sulkily when I told him firmly for the third time to stop jumping against me and pretending to bite my cheek. Lately he shows a talent for withdrawing his affection whenever we set a limit. "I'm not going to give you any more food, Mommy," he warned me once...Alex has already picked up on my desire that he love his new sister as much as I do.

I do have strong desires for sibling bliss, but when I get carried away all I have to do is remember my own experience, as a first-born child, riding in the back seat of a New York taxi when my Mom came home from the hospital for the first time with my new baby brother, Rob. I remember peering down at his face, not really l looking very hard, my mind dancing around, and asking off-the-cuff what the name was of this new, ah, thing. "Robbie," said my mother.

I don't like that name!" I said instantly, feeling mild disgust and bewilderment. The name 'Robbie' just seemed so...alien, unlike our family. What had possessed my mother to pick such a name?

I love my brother, but he still gets on my nerves !