I am surprised how long this lasted but now it's pretty much done.

I have a picture from the day that Rachel was born that shows an overjoyed Laurel basking in the glow of being a big sister.  During the last few years, this picture has been an example of how she and Rachel got along:  jubilant, helpful and protective.  I am surprised how long this lasted but now it's pretty much done.  Laurel does not like being a big sister.

Over the past couple of weeks, Laurel has been quite clear that she wants her space.  She doesn't want her stuff touched.  She wants time alone with Ching and me.  And worse of all, she is becoming jealous of Rachel's cuteness. What I don't tell her is that it doesn't get better, for a while, at least.

Currently my solution is to give Laurel some alone time--just Laurel and me, Laurel and her dad or Laurel and her sitter (of course, not a babysitter, just the sitter.)  I am trying to move some of Laurel's old toys into Rachel's space so Laurel doesn't feel infiltrated.  I can't help her with the cuteness jealousy.

I tell her that I understand because I am a big sister too.  I remind her that her Aunt Jess is my little sister.  I am went through the same thing.  There were many a year when I wanted a sister and then there were those that I didn't.  Usually the years that I didn't involved arguments about sweaters and car rides.  Now it seems so trivial.

So now as I am starting to play peace maker between Laurel and Rachel, I come to grips that this will ebb and flow for the next 15 years. (Oh crap...)  But for now I am thinking about this one thing...a few weeks ago, Laurel said she wanted a hamster.  A few years ago, she said she wanted a sister and now, she kind of doesn't want Rachel around.  I wonder how I can spin this to avoid getting that little rodent.