The Ten Don'ts of Parenting a Subsequent Child

by Kaye Keith 

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999

It has now been just over a year since we have had our subsequent to losing Jesse. This list is strictly from our personal experiences and is not meant to offend anyone, if anything, to enlighten your day. I feel that Parenting is tough enough, but is even more interesting and challenging when you've lost a child. We second guess our every decision and move. Enjoy these memories from my husbands' and my attempts to do everything right!

The Ten Don'ts of Parenting a Subsequent Child

10. Don't panic at every cough, sneeze and sniffle. They learn real quick that this is a great attention gainer.

9. Don't feel those twinges of guilt when you need to tell them NO. Most often it really is for their own good.

8. Don't hold them so tight when you are crying like a mad woman over the baby you've lost. They really have a tendency to protest this tight grip.

7. Don't examine their stools, listen to their heartbeat with your newly purchased stethoscope, or try to predict their illnesses. None of this really brings you any comfort and your spouse will not need to question your integrity :-}

6. Don't drive 85 mph to get home to them. The cost of those speeding tickets can become expensive.

5. Don't fret if you call them your lost baby's name. Fortunately they are too young to judge your sanity.

4. Don't spend most of your sleep night in their room, kneeling by their bed, listening to their breathing, in constant prayer for them to be able to stay with you. After a few months, you really learn you do need to sleep a little.

3. Don't kiss their cheeks so much before leaving them to go to work on a cold Northeastern morning. This will definitely chap their delicate skin.

2. Don't lay them ONLY on their backs for the first 5 months of their young life. This will give them a very interesting flat shape to their head, as well as delay some motor skills.

1. Don't waste a precious minute with them by being so scared they are going to leave you. Instead try to just enjoy the minutes you have with them.

Thanks for letting me share!
Kaye

Billy 5/19/91
Jesse 5/7/96-12/3/96
Kaycee 11/9/97
Cherishing our Precious Jesse Moments