The Big Sister

Initially when Zhi is born, Ning wasn't quite receptive of her little brother. She was rather jealous and was doing sneaky acts and throwing tantrums often to attract our attention. Timing wise, it also coincide with her "Terrible Two" stage.

I did what most experts recommended. Like buying a gift when she visit her brother at the hospital and tell her that this gift is from her brother. Then it would lessen the rivalry they have as siblings. I would say, this is whole lot of bullshit. It doesn't work. And I did a check with other mums, most of them don't find this strategy work for them too.

Other strategies like getting the older child more involved by asking her to help out in little tasks like bringing/throwing the diapers etc didn't work on Ning too. She tells me to get it myself.

Of course, WF tells me that what these expert said does not apply to ALL children. So I should take it with a pinch of salt. Yah, I've become so cynical of these authors that sometimes I wonder if they are parents of more than one child themselves.

Anyway, one year had passed and March is Zhi's birthday month. Things are improving between the two kids. Ning has grown more affectionate towards her brother and her brother is getting used to be hugged and bugged by Ning. Of course, there is still the occasional jealousy syndrome showing out but compared to the initial months, its much lesser.

I've put up a clip of how Ning was pacifying her brother, patting him to comfort him and mimicking WF's "orh la orh la". Quite sweet.



loving ning.mov