The first child
is always first.
Always.
And it makes me kind of crazy.
Because the second child is now
the middle child.
And the third child has to just
cope
with everything that the first child
needs.
And there is always something he needs.
Help tying his shoes.
Another snack.
More water in his Thermos.
To be read to.
A hug.
Attention.
He always needs my attention.
And his first younger sister
the now middle child
has always been second.
Because she is patient
and understanding
and kind.
Because she can entertain herself
comfortably
happily.
She is not nervous
and anxious
and demanding
like her older brother.
Who must always come first.
And tonight I find myself shopping
online
for sheets for his new bed.
And a new radio for his new room.
And shoes for his growing feet
that soon will be taking him off to kindergarten.
And I’m sad for his sister
who has shared a room with him
for all of her life
and who is getting rid of him
but gaining another roommate
and who will have to cope with what we already have right now
the same bedding
the same everything.
And I know it doesn’t really matter
and that she doesn’t even care.
But still.
That first child
is still
demanding more and more and more.
And, wait, didn’t I have another child around here somewhere?
What am I going to do with her?
The first child
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Jen,
I was a second, a middle, the one who always got the hand-me-downs. At some point my little sister grew taller than me and I got her hand-me-downs. I honestly can say I didn’t mind it. But, with the middle child in mind I found a cheap set for B so maybe you’ll have some left over for her. Try this: https://www.thekidswarehouse.com/under-construction-sheets-p-321.html.
R
I could have written this about my children. A boy, and then the two girls (and then the forth, also a girl a couple of years later). The middle one always the most patient, most forgiving and having to share the most of her life. But she is a beautiful, lovely person because of it, her teachers describe her as joyful and I suspect that life will be the easiest for her in the long run. But still it doesn’t eliminate my mother guilt.
Good luck with Kindergarten. Such a milestone for your house :).
Oh, so it’s NOT just MY oldest kid that is demanding, anxious, and nervous? Seriously. Thank God for blogging…I thought I’d done a bad job.