Like Dogs Before an Earthquake
Something happened this week: Archer 180′d into crazyville. Needless to say, potty training has been put on hold for the time being (which, by the way, THANK YOU ALL for your advice. You were so helpful!) in order to make way for non-tantrum training, which, yeah… Bummer.
While last week Archer was coming home from school with pictures of “baby sister,” this week Archer has cried hysterically every morning when I drop him off, something neither of us has dealt with since January when Archer started preschool.
Even today, which should have been a most exciting day (Show and Tell Thursday, y’all!) was not. In fact Archer didn’t even WANT to do Show and Tell. He also didn’t want to get dressed or leave his room to go to school.
“I don’t want it!” he screamed.
Archer, who usually loves school and waves me off like I’m some kind of embarrassment, has suddenly decided he cannot be without me and it’s making me very nervous. Archer suddenly has no interest in “the baby” … No interest to kiss my belly or kiss her basinet before bed. No interest in singing her songs (which he has been doing every night for the past few weeks.) Archer wants nothing to do with anything “new” in the house. He only wants Mommy.
This baby is coming very soon. I know this to be true because A. my OB said “this baby is coming very soon” yesterday and B. *cough* Bloody Show *cough*… which, can I digress for a moment so we can please discuss “bloody show” being one of the most frightening things to say aloud? I do realize Bloody Show would be a great Brit-pop band name but ew! It’s worse than saying “mucous plug!”
Even if I wasn’t dilated, effaced and leaking bloody mucus out of my person, I would STILL know the baby was soon to come just by watching Archer chase his tail in the living room. He’s a pretty observant dude and its obvious that he is very aware that his life is about to change. For the better, I swear! But also, for the different. And that’s hard for a little dude to deal with.
thirty-eight weeks pregcellent, rockin’ 41 extra lbs and totally and completely uncomfortable.
Like dogs before an earthquake, I can understand what he’s going through. I was an only child, once, too. And one of my earliest memories was the feeling of total confusion when my little brother came home from the hospital. I can only pray that Archer mellows after “the big one” strikes and is able to navigate the potential aftershocks.
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Dude, I’m so jealous you, uh, had your bloody show. (Ew, NEVER thought I’d ever type that. Ever.) I’m due in 4 days and I’m not even dialated. And while I can’t relate with the Archer situation–this being my first child–I could say that my dog is freaking out a bit.
Good luck with everything, and you are totally rockin’ that belly!
So sorry Archer is getting out of sorts…I’m sure it’s all just coming together for him. It’s an adjustment period. I think it’s healthy that he’s expressing it, even if the way he’s expressing it is a little distressing. If he just sailed right through it easy-peasy, that might be a little weird. Keep giving him tons of love and he’ll be fine!
Yeah, was that “bloody show” just the scariest thing? I was in my in-law’s bathroom and screamed. They actually came in to check on me.
I feel for your little guy so much. You know what to do, and eventually you know it’ll all go “back to normal” …whatever your family’s new version of “normal” will be.
Best of luck, and have a happy delivery!
Thanks, ladies. I’m hoping he’s just testing the waters, here. I’m sure I’m anxious as well and he can read me like a book. Sigh…
Yeah, they can tell. I think the earthquake thing is a good analogy. I know I apparently freaked out before the baby brother’s arrival. I’m guessing very very soon.
I also freaked out after he arrived, when I asked if I could send him back and get a sister instead.
My son could “smell it coming” too! He was INSANE the week before- he settled down- it just took awhile. Make sure to spend some time with just Archer post baby-my OB told me to have a special basket of toys for my 2 1/2 year old that just came out when i was nursing the baby- little toys and books. That was the best advice- my son looked forward to the every 2 hour feedings just to get out the toys and read together! You still look great!
I remember reading about the “bloody show” thing when I was pregnant and being very freaked out. I had no idea that it only happens in a subsequent pregnancy. This in itself may be a reason to stop at one…best of luck with everything! You look fantastic!
We are dealing with the EXACT.SAME.THING with my daughter (3.5 years)
Sorry for the caps, but argh! this is so frustrating… she’s regressed in so many areas it isn’t even funny. Two weeks ago I was stoked about the baby (scheduled C Oct 1)… now I’m worried she’s going to snap.
Oh, they know! Here they say a kid is “chipe” when they start acting up like that . . . it basically means there`s a baby on the way.
My son was 16 months old when his baby brother was born and holy cow was he unimpressed! He was super excited to see me come out of the hospital (he was waiting in the parking lot) and when he saw I was carrying a baby? HA! He shot me this look that basically said, “You terrible mother. You abandoned me for two days and now you`ve got a NEW KID?!?!” He had NOTHING to do with me for about three days, he would just sit there and glare at me all day long. But he`s over it now. The little one just hit 16 months and they`re best of friends, most of the time.
Archer is going to be upset with his new role for a bit, I suspect, but you`ll see, he`ll come to adore his sis!
I disagree, I think “mucous plug” is WAY worse than “bloody show”. Though I can maybe see a nineties punk band being named Mucous Plug. but still, ew.
hope la petite bebe comes soon!
Yeah, you’re right. “Mucous Plug” is pretty gross, too but the whole “Bloody Show” thing sounds like they’re trying to frame it as a party… It makes me think of some red carpet event with Hollywood starlets dressed like vampires… Or something. Thanks for the reinforcement. Good to know what Archer’s going through is normal and I hope (as it has for many of you) that it will soon pass, because, ay yay yay.
So sorry that Archer is acting up. My son (was 2 years, 10 months when my 2nd son was born) was fine (and self-potty-trained) until a couple days after his brother’s birth. Now, 2 months later, he’s completely back in diapers and disobeying and testing us ALL the time. Ugh. Hope this phase doesn’t last much longer….
My second kid is only 28 weeks along, so I don’t have any first-hand experience for you. My mom, on the other hand, worked in preschool programs for almost two decades, and she says the toddlers always go crazy and get “bent out of shape” right before their younger sibling is born. She claims they pretty much go back to normal after the baby is born and the mom stops being huge and awkward. She worked mostly with two-year-olds, so you mileage may vary.
Good to know, Gertie. Yeah, his teachers were very “this is normal, don’t worry — he’ll get over it…” this week when they were helping me scrape him off my person every morning. I was relieved to hear that. Preschool teachers have much experience in this dept I would think.
Good to know, Gertie. Yeah, his teachers were very “this is normal, don’t worry — he’ll get over it…” this week when they were helping me scrape him off my person every morning. I was relieved to hear that. Preschool teachers have much experience in this dept I would think.
What I did with my 2 year old son was to go very slowly with the baby thing. When he came to see me at the hospital I made sure that I was not holding his baby sister when he first saw me. I think that was quite a key. Then we both looked at the baby in the crib. My son is very active and I had to watch him every step like an eagle, but he never meant any harm, but just overwhelming playfulness.
Later I asked him to help to change her nappy etc.
I was very happy that he did not regress with his potty habits (he was almost potty trained by the new arrival). Some baby talk came later etc.
There are precious videos of him sending his kisses and hello to me while I was still in the hospital. The look at his face was very uncertain. It was the first time I was away for a night (5 in total). The whole things was not easy on him, but now I think they both benefit of having a sibling. Good luck.