Step Lair

One of the things I’m working on not letting it get to me is Slug’s competitiveness. It’s good for the kids because it makes her step up to the plate as a Mother, but it’s still annoying.

I could give a gazillion examples, but of late:

* I bought SS13 a book of “Funniest Irish Stories” when I was in Ireland. She buys SD9 “World’s Funniest Stories” the next weekend.

* I buy SD9 a china doll for her birthday. Slug’s mother then buys her a bigger china doll for Christmas.

* DH and the kids got into the habit of eating Toblerone Chocolate on Satuday nights. Slug gives the kids mini toblerone bars when we are at Church.

* Nobody celebrated the kids birthdays, but my family is big on birthdays, so we start to celebrate the kids birthdays and taking them on fun excursions. e.g. take SD9 horseriding, take SS13 go-karting etc. Surprise - now she is taking them on excursions for their birthdays too.

* The kids didn’t have costumes for the Book Parade and were not looking forward to having to parade in their school uniforms, so DH and I made them costumes. (and SD9 won!!) Slug takes SD9 out that weekend to buy a costume for the next parade (in TWO YEARS time!!) and makes SD9 promise that Slug will do the costume next time, despite being quite happy to not bother that year and the previous time.

* We take the kids shopping and buy them new shoes. She takes them shopping the next week and buys them fancier shoes (those roller shoes.) Same with clothes. e.v.e.r.y. t.i.m.e

I guess we must be doing something right to be such inspirations! It’s good for the kids, but I worry about them seeing this competing. I hope they don’t learn to use it for their own ends when they get older. It’s sad that she feels this insecure in her childrens love for her!

Can’t she work out her own ways of being involved in the kids lives? Afterall, as the custodial Muuther, she should know them better than me!!