Dear second child,
I’m sorry.
In your six months of life, you’ve been carted around wherever big sis goes. You have been nursed on the go, you still haven’t mastered how to nap in a crib, and most likely your first finger food will be something you find on the floor. You’ve barely had any new clothes or toys to call your own. You never really have your own time with Mom and Dad the way your sister did. Yes, we had maternity leave together. But, let’s face it, that was a crazy time.
Life is definitely more chaotic now than when your sister was your age. You will, of course, say your first word, crawl, cruise, and walk. But I will have no record of when any of these took place. These days, when we come home from work, there’s not much time for all of us to be together before you cry out of fatigue and get whisked to bed. And, what time we do have is often dedicated to what big sister wants to do. You look like you are enjoying yourself, though.
I love how excited you are to see me when your sister and I pick you up from daycare. Your hands flail, you start babbling, and your face lights up like the sun. Can you tell how excited I am, too? I sometimes hide my excitement, lest your sister get jealous. I hope you understand, second child. You light up my heart, baby girl. You really do.
Maybe, though, those big smiles aren’t for me.
I think they actually are for your sister.
Maybe, I’m not so sorry.
When you were born, your best friend was waiting for you. Your sister has been looking out for you from day one. She sang you “Happy Birthday” and brought you birthday cupcakes in the hospital that first day. When you were two weeks old, she gave you your paci before Dad or I even realized you were crying. When you had your first bite of solids, she gave it to you (and insisted on being your royal taste tester).
Life’s different now. Yes, Dad and I are much more stressed out and are still trying to figure out this thing they call balance. But, you have two parents who are more relaxed and easy going than your sister did. She was our guinea pig. I read countless parenting books when she was a wee one and, boy, was I nervous. With you, I am more calm and easygoing. You have already watched a movie (with your sister, of course), you will likely eat sweets at an earlier age, and you will likely achieve every milestone before your sister did.
Second child, you will never be the one to do anything first. And, as a second-born myself, trust me — I feel your pain. But, you will still do it, and we will cheer.
And, you know who will be cheering the loudest? Your big sister.
