How does a Square Peg cope with a sibling birthday?
This week saw Matthew’s (our eldest neurotypical) 10th Birthday. I feel that maybe I should have thought this through a bit beforehand.
I’m sure that Edward isn’t the only Square Peg who really struggles with their siblings birthday.
It actually started the weekend before when Matthew’s friends came to pick him up to take him to Adrenaline. Edward was upset by this and cried most of the afternoon saying that he wanted to be picked up by Belinda (Matthews friend’s Mum) too.
After a while, Edward had gone back to being fairly calm as he obviously forgot about it…until….Matthew got dropped home. Well, Edward was howling and crying for Belinda.
This is perhaps when I should have thought about what might happen on Matthew’s actual birthday.
I tried preparing Edward by telling him that the next day would be Matthew’s birthday and that Edward’s birthday is in June but, on reflection, this wasn’t enough.
Edward kept repeating that it was his birthday and that he would get presents.
On the morning of Matthew’s birthday, Edward was awake before Matthew…he was very excited and couldn’t wait for Matthew to wake up. When Matthew did finally get up Edward was shouting at Matthew to open his presents. Then he was desperate to open one himself and when I said no he got upset. When they had all been unwrapped, this seemed to tip him over the edge.
Fortunately, we didn’t have time to dwell on this as we had to get ready and go to school. This enabled Edward to forget about it for the day so by the time he came home he was more settled.
So what could I have done to prevent this from happening? Should I have bought Edward a little present for him to open? Should Edward just learn to deal with this himself?
Has anyone had experience of this? What would you have done? Advice appreciated.
I have a friend who gave her kids a little present when it was their siblings birthday. I don’t really get this but I guess it was what she felt she needed to do. I don’t really know. #Parentpower
Bless him. My son struggled hard with this, and I would say it was only this year that he’s started to cope with it not being his job to help and that presents are not for him. It’s hard for them to get the concept and to understand. We used to do a little present for him, but this year we didn’t and he was ok but it’s taken time and patience and it’s not easy for them.
#parentpower
It’s a tricky one! I wouldn’t have bought an extra present but maybe would have practised singing happy birthday and encouraged some craft to give as a gift. #parentpower