Respect the Ice

The impending birth of a baby always raises question of the potential impact on family dynamics.  Within our extended family we were pleasantly surprised 8 months ago when the new baby was welcomed by his 2 year old brother with open arms.  Kisses, hugs, and appropriate check-ins dominated the interactions.  Easy-peasy, right?  Sure, as long as the younger brother brother remained on the couch, bed, or in someone's arms.

That is not the case any longer.

Little is on the move.  He flies through the house in his walker and is enjoying life from a new perspective.  That should all be good news and yet an unanticipated wrinkle has presented.  The family has recently learned their hockey-obsessed older son was much more accepting of the baby while he was contained to a well-defined space.   The little one poses a unforeseen threat now that he is on the move.  Several times a day, the cry goes out from the living room.  "He's on my ice!  He's on my ice!"  It seems the floor, which was assumed to be open for all family members to walk on, was in reality the first child's ice and no other "skaters" are allowed to share.  When the anxious cry was called out on a subsequent day, a mom's quick thinking responded "He's the Zamboni!  He needs to clean the ice."  After a thoughtful moment, there was acceptance.  The older one went on with his activities and the mom sighed a sigh of relief.  Crisis averted.  Until 10-15 minutes later, the older son yelled "Time for the Zamboni to get off the ice so we can play again."   

Let the games begin!