Real sharing

Last year when we were preparing Myles again to welcome a baby sister into our family, we were of course worried about resentment and all those other behaviors understandably jealous older children go through. Among the usual discussions, I told Myles that he would probably have to share a lot of with the baby, but I would not expect him to share his favorite toy/best friend, a stuffed dog he named Douglas. Douglas has been Myles' constant companion since he was about eighteen months old. I thought that he would appreciate keeping his most precious thing special to him.

Since Brigid's birth, though, I have a hard time keeping Douglas away from her.

I often remind Myles what I told him last fall, that he does not have to share Douglas.

"But Douglas wants to see Brigid," he usually says. And then he adds, "And I love her."