Giggles and Little Brother (2007-05-31)

(Originally posted on 31 May 2007.)

When I told Giggles about her new little brother, she didn’t express much interest (except to say he looked like a girl!).

But she wanted very much to take his picture to school the next day, and show it to her teachers and classmates. They commented to me that she was very excited about having a little brother.
Since then, she hasn’t spoken of it much, but she does seem interested. The other night we had some church friends over for supper and out of the blue she remarked “I’m getting a little brother!” (perhaps prompted by the fact that the one family has three sons!) They had missed my announcement in church the previous Sunday so it was news to them, but they were quite congratulatory.

Then this past Tuesday at after-school daycare, there was an obviously pregnant woman out at the playground where the kids play. She asked her caregiver some questions, then informed her that she was getting a little brother, too!

I’m sure Giggles will have adjustment issues when little brother comes home – sharing toys, sharing Mommy, sharing attention… Not to mention adjusting to his not speaking English initially, and likely some initial behaviour issues. I’m also sure she doesn’t remember much of her adjustment period and won’t recognize in him behaviours she also expressed (like getting into absolutely everything!!). But I’m hopeful that having a built-in at-home playmate will compensate for some of the “negatives” and that things will work out smoothly enough.

(By the way, several other people have commented that he looks like a girl, too, and indeed it was one of my first impressions – in part I think because in the picture he’s dressed in pink, and he has very fine features.)