Lily and I went to the park last Saturday and had to wade through a soccer tournament. The normally serene Whispering Woods park was swarmed with hundred's of families and their accompanying minivans and SUV's. Even the playground equipment was swamped, mostly with soccer players waiting for the game or younger siblings of players. Lily was fine with this, because she typically likes watching people more than any activities.
It made me think about having kids, rather than a kid - siblings.
The obvious things come into play - it's going to take more time and cost more money. Still, the more dramatic changes will come from the overall dynamics.
It's going to be a balancing force for Lily. She's going to have to share the spotlight. Going from an only child to 1 of 2 is the biggest shift. Jealousy is inevitable, to some degree. Ultimately, this will be positive, in my opinion, because these are lessons that can teach humility.
Discipline suddenly gets more complex. It's going to be a juggling act. Young children don't always understand the discipline to begin with, and there are more traps for inconsistency with multiple children.
The kids get a built in play partner and buddy. They have someone to share experiences with - a peer, so they can talk about what mean parents Cindy and I are. Hopefully these relationships will continue throughout their lives. It's a valuable asset.
So, in the end, I expect increased complexity, but also a much better environment for both children & any that follow.
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