The Second Child Shaft?

As we drove home from Target today and Reagan hollered at Jack from her throne in the backseat, "Hold on buddy, we're almost home", it occurred to me that we might be witnessing the backlash of the dreaded "second child shaft". The "second child shaft" is inevitable slide from by the book, "perfect" parenting, where every decision and action is meticulously thought-out, planned and analyzed to rear the most well-adjusted, developmentally advanced child.

With Reagan we followed books, listened and sought out advice from anyone who might have an expertise from pediatricians to people who had the misfortune of becoming parents before us and ensured that we were 100% focused on her as long as she was awake. She rarely spent time alone in her crib while awake (a mistake that would cost us many nights of sleep later in life) and we took turns eating meals so that she didn't have to sit in her swing. I cried when I accidentally clipped her little finger while clipping her nails, as she wailed about the injury and baths took at least an hour, as we gently ensure every nook and cranny was sanitized.

With Jack, as evidence by my eldest child's proclamation on the way home from Target, one of my most common phrases directed towards that beautiful little boy is, "Hold on buddy", followed by, "Momma will be there as soon as she finishes [insert whatever task I am attending to at the moment]". I clipped his little finger the other day while clipping Jack's nails and didn't notice until the wound was completely scabbed over -- he never said "boo" about the accidental clip and Jack's baths are a quick 5 minute activity that involves the whole family--Reagan all up in Jack's business washing his legs, Sammie lurking around the baby tub trying to get at the toys and me quickly ensuring that we are scrubbing the grime off my little boy (I think Reagan's contribution of leg washing probably yields the cleanest body parts!).

Thankfully, we have been blessed with the ultimate gift in a baby, a good-natured, easy-going, sweet and patient boy. He quietly and sweetly smiles a serene gummy smile at me from his bouncy chair, as I quickly wisk away a mess made by hurricane Reagan and politely asks to be fed with another smile and some quiet foot kicking. While he certainly loves to cuddle into anyone's arms who is willing to hold him, he will also lie contentedly in his crib watching the Gopher mobile rotate above his head. Will he remain this accommodating as he grows, who knows but for the time being we are enjoying and hopefully not taking advantage of my sweet little man's pleasant disposition, as he quietly takes his place as my shafted second baby.