Annabel remembers introducing her hour-old baby to her partner’s teenage daughter. She didn’t know what to expect. The older girl, an only child, had been shocked and angry since she first discovered that her father was having another baby. “It had been hell, frankly. Nothing we did or said seemed to help. But she embraced her sister whole-heartedly from the moment she arrived. The idea of the baby was scary, but in the actual presence of a baby, she came round. She realised that her world had been made larger, rather than her place in it becoming smaller.”
Not every introduction goes so smoothly. A baby disrupts a sibling’s life. It can be especially tricky with the added complexity of a blended family. Heidi Reynolds, a social worker at Family Life Centre and in private practice, helps blended families to navigate that space. “One of the challenges is that the adults are excited for this new baby and they have a romanticised view of what it’s going to be like,” she says. “It can lead them to ignore the complexity of real blended family life. What they might miss is the perspective of the older siblings.”
It goes without saying that the arrival of a new baby changes the family dynamic significantly. Of course there can be enormous gains in a blended family and in a new sibling – more love, more fun, more connection. But there are also losses for the other children – of time, of their place in the family, of connection, even of resources like physical space and money treats. They might well feel displaced or threatened. They will likely already have been through a separation or divorce, and had to accommodate new step-parents and possibly their children.
この記事は Your Pregnancy の April/May 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Your Pregnancy の April/May 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
COVID & your child
Symptoms, treatment, vaccines and a rare condition called MIS-C is on our minds when it comes to The Virus these days.
EYES WIDE OPEN!
Breastfeeding and night wakings? Experts shine a light on a possible connection.
RAISING A BRAT? TIME FOR A RESET!
It happens, even with the best of intentions. Sometimes we go overboard trying to show our love – and then things backfire.
Prioritise REST!
The fatigue of pregnancy serves to remind you exactly what miracle your body is performing, so it’s essential to listen to it. Here’s what you can do to get through these low times.
CRYING CLUES
Discover the meaning behind your baby’s cries.
Pushing isn't all you need to do!
There are four main factors that affect the length and intensity of labour. They are known as the four P’s and work together to make each woman’s labour unique.
We're all NERVOUS about it!
Sure, it can seem scarier than labour, but with these simple tips to bathing your newborn, you’ll soon be a pro.
FOUR-FOOTED FAMILY MEMBERS
Your children and your pets – everything you’ll need to know to be a happy family.
Here's to HAPPIER beach days!
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
TALK SO YOU'RE HEARD!
Feel like your child just doesn’t listen to you? There are some techniques you can use to improve your chances of getting through.