What about me?

Today was a big day for my son James. It was his second birthday and his first day of day care -- probably the first time he's been apart from either Vicki, me or one of his grandmothers since he was born.

Unfortunately, Ellie was a bit jealous of all the attention he was getting. Vicki had brought home two big, beautiful cupcakes (one for each of them) and before she and I left for parents' night at Ellie school we had planned to put birthday candles in the cupcake and sing happy birthday to James. Not one to cede the spotlight to her little brother, Ellie insisted that she get five candles in her cupcake and that we sing happy birthday to her before we sang happy birthday to James. Her real birthday is in April.

When we were done singing to each of them, she blew out the candles on her brother's cupcake before he could do it himself and then taunted him about it.

This is just the more recent example of the constant refrain from both kids the last few weeks. Any time one of them gets special treatment the other one says, "what about me?" Every new toy, new book, even small compliments results in a "what about me?" from the kid who wasn't on the receiving end. 

I'm not sure it was the right thing to do, but tonight we gave in an sang happy birthday to Ellie even though her real birthday isn't for another 7-1/2 months. I'm hoping this is a phase and we won't be singing happy birthday to James on Ellie's birthday next spring. On the other hand, I suppose this could go on for the next 13 years until Ellie goes away to college.

Comments

[Claire Alcock]

Ha! I started this game at Ellie's age - and still now find little things to upturn the cart at my brother's birthday celebration - - even if my parents are there! It's just tradition now - i am sure they wouldn't have it any other way!!

[Jim Ramsey]

Is that a older sister thing or just an older sibling thing?

I'll ask my sister (whose name is Claire, coincidentally) if I was doing the same thing to her when we were kids.