A tale of two boys….

Today I enrolled BC in swimming lessons. The girl at the desk asked me if I also wanted to enrol the little Bean (who was running amok through the swimming pool reception area at the time) in Water Awareness classes. I laughed and shook my head as though that was the craziest idea I’d ever heard. But later, on the way home, I thought about it and realised it wasn’t crazy at all. And I am still thinking about it.

BC will turn 4 in a few months. Up until now, here’s a list of some of the regular ‘fun’ activities he’s been involved in (not all the same time of course):

Water awareness, Gymbaroo (baby and toddler gym), Hi De Ho Music time, Hydrotherapy, Yoga for the Special Child, Special Needs Play group, Mums Group, Therapeutic horseback riding, library early learners reading time, Early Intervention group sessions etc etc…..

And here’s the list of regular ‘fun’ activities that the little Bean has experienced so far.

Here’s that list again:

That’s right. A big fat nothing. He occasionally gets to have a dip in the pool with me on a Friday when BC is at childcare IF we don’t have other jobs to get done. AND of course he gets dragged around to all the activities, appointments and therapy sessions that BC has but as far as a regular ’social activity’ NADA. Nothing. Nil.

I’ve known all along that it’s not that fair for him to have to be dragged around too all the things we do for BC, but now I feel the added guilt of not giving him enough of a social life! I can’t remember the last time (if ever!) he’s had the chance to potter around with other toddlers his age, except perhaps for random meetings at the playground….

Perhaps little kids don’t need all this extra ’stuff’ anyway? I know I didn’t do anything before kindergarten…But it still makes me a little sad that I’ve given so much time, attention and opportunities to my first born, but my second born hasn’t had that experience. And in reality, even though I feel sad, I know there’s not the time anyway for me to start adding more to our busy schedule to address the imbalance right now.

Ho hom.

I guess I’ll just have to remind myself that what Bean DOES have that BC didn’t when he was little, is a big brother around all the time to play with, to bother, to learn from, to explore with. And perhaps that’s all that he needs for now. I sure hope so.