The Second Year...

Jeff enjoyed taking baby J when he went on one errand or another. Sweet, but I thought frustrating, as there were five other children at home who wanted to be out with Dad even if only for a quick run around town and they were aware of being left behind. Baby J was still snoozing life away whether in our arms or carseat-bound. J's older brothers absolutely adored him and held him constantly. We all felt pride that our baby never cried. He was never given the opportunity! In a split second he would be picked up, fed, entertained and loved.

After only a short while Jeff began expressing irritation with the older children. He didn't like them holding the baby, didn't like the 'way' they played with him; they were too loud or too boisterous or conversely they didn't keep his attention enough! By the time J was a year old Jeff had clearly drawn the line between J and the rest of the children. This is when I began hearing how my children were 'genetically inferior ' to his child. (We have some OCD's and depression in my family and their father's family.) By the time J was two, we were living in the Twilight Zone.