I was somewhat mentally prepared for Ari to regress once Samara was born. Many people told me tales of how their own children regressed. Some kids used the pacifier after seeing the new baby use one, other children threw tantrums due to the lack of attention being bestowed upon them.
Here’s how Ari has been behaving since the arrival of his little sister:
- He throws monster tantrums
- He screams “Goo Goo Ga Ga!” When I say to him “Babies say Goo Goo Ga Ga, you’re a big boy.” He yells back”NO! I a BABY!” I say “Are you a baby because babies get attention?” “Yeah.” He replies with his little head down. I hug and kiss him and cry.
- He says “I miss you mommy.” I say, misty eyed, “I miss you too.” It is heart-breaking.
- I tried to buy him a baby doll. Many people suggested this could help him adjust to the new baby. We were in a toy store and I said to him “Look at this baby! This is Ari’s baby. Do you want to take this baby home?” “NO!” He replied firmly. I didn’t want to force the issue.
- He hits me when he wants attention. Sometimes I pretend to cry. Generally I say “Why are you hitting me? Do you want attention?” He sheepishly replies “Yeah.” “Then say mommy, I want attention.” He repeats back to me with my exact intonation “Mommy, I want attention.”
Phew! Having two kids is challenging. I wonder if my brother reacted this way when I was born!