Mr A says that Baby Mouse is my obvious favourite. Of course my first reaction is indignation - you should love your children equally, however it did get me thinking.
When you have your first child everything is just this huge journey and discovery. It's all so new and certainly I was determined to get it absolutely right - follow the books, the advice from specialists, advice from mums I admire. I invested everything into Miss Mouse. I think the fact that she was such a pleasant, easy going baby and toddler helped. I don't think I knew how lucky I was. I was glad for the big age gap between the girls. For me it meant that they are always at such different stages in life and have different needs. Instead of trying to spread myself over a toddler and a baby, I had a little girl and a baby - I found their needs to be clearly defined.
I don't think I favour one child over the other, I am just very aware that they are two very different personalities. I don't believe in treating your children the same because they are not the same, they are two individuals.Love them the same yes, but treat them as the individuals they are! Miss Mouse who plays her cards close to her chest, who is independant, creative, funny and shines under praise. Baby Mouse, who cannot be alone....ever! (this can be a real pain!) but is super cuddly, and just adores her big sister and copies everything...oh and she doesn't believe she is 2, in her mind she is at least 4!
Sadly Baby Mouse has hit the terrible twos - goodness gracious me she has spent this whole week shouting No! at me, just because she can. And the tantrums, oh the tantrums!!! After a long, hard day I was trying to deal with yet another tantrum in the bath, and I realised that Miss Mouse had gone to her bedroom, put her pj's on, sorted out her wet towel etc etc, and I realised why it is so easy to think I favour my baby. At the end of a long day I don't have the fight in me, and it's easier to just placate rather than discipline. At the end of a long day it's easy to overlook the capable older child whilst the youngest fusses. When you have one child, you devote all your time to that child, when you have two suddenly the time has to be carefully managed...and in that you need to include cooking, cleaning, chores and some ever diminishing me time. I honestly know that I am blessed with my two girls and if Mr A should ever suggest another baby, I may slap him with a wet fish...hard!
