As I prepare to give birth to my second child, I’m reflecting a lot on how different this pregnancy is from my first, and how life will change with the addition of another child. I’ve talked to people with two and three kids and I’ve learned that it’s not going to be an easy adjustment. I’ve heard the sayings…
You each get a kid.
You’re outnumbered (for those with three).
It’s like going from 0 to 60.
Your heart will double in size.
But all of this reflection has me thinking about how bad I feel for our second child. While in utero, he hasn’t gotten the same attention and overthinking that my first son did. Every symptom was Googled and discussed in my first pregnancy. I took the time to make sure I was eating healthy, well rested, sitting and relaxing when feeling fatigued, I even worked out nearly every day of my first pregnancy.
Well, let me tell you how this has changed with pregnancy number two. While working full-time with a toddler in daycare, the day doesn’t end when I’m done work. I head right to daycare to pick up my son, go home and am on my feet until his 7 o’clock bedtime. It feels like every time I sit down, he needs something else. Long gone are the days when I could leisurely do a workout or even clean the house! Once bedtime hits, I’m done for. It’s usually a quick shower and pj’s, and in bed by 8 o’clock. Then up and at em’ the next day.
I feel bad for our second child because, as you might imagine, I don’t have much time to even think about being pregnant. Maybe this is a good thing and how it’s supposed to go. But, it doesn’t allow me to truly enjoy my pregnancy either.
My line of thinking then goes to my first born. I know when baby #2 comes it will be an adjustment for him. He will be 2 ½ when our second child is born and he is a mama’s boy. He won’t be able to remember having my full attention for those first 2 years. He won’t know how much time I spent to make sure I was doing everything possible to have a healthy pregnancy. He won’t realize the effort that went into planning for his arrival. His new normal will be sharing our life with his new little brother, and I’m not sure how on board with that he is right now.
I will try my best to make sure he knows how much time we had together, just the two of us before his little brother came along. How he had my undivided attention and how he made me a mom. Every first he had, was my first right along with him.
Are you a mom of two or more little ones? How did your firstborn transition to being a big brother or sister?
