Thoughts: "Big sister day"?

[sonrisa]

I'll probably have a scheduled c-section a few days before Christmas. The grandmothers will take care of DD until they get the call that all is well and then everyone will come to the hospital. I'm hoping my mom can care for DD that first night while DH stays with me. I assume we'll go home when the baby is two days old. I'm thinking of referring to c-section day as "big sister day" with my daughter who will have just turned three. I could plan fun things for her to do with my mom/MIL to celebrate becoming a big sister. A museum trip while we are in surgery, then perhaps a special ladies lunch, and then a celebratory cookie or something. I thought there could be a present from the new baby waiting at home when they get back from the hospital. 

Thoughts?

[thejackpot]

It sounds like a good idea. I don't know if you have to call it anything since LO birthday will trump Big Sister Day but the concept is great. My ds will be getting a gift from the baby.

[Cheesecake]

Sounds great!

Sent from my Xperia Z, please don't mind typos!

[Jalapeñomel]

I think that sounds really sweet.

[AHappierHour]

I love this idea and plan and stealing it and doing it for my girls

[runblondie26]

That sounds like a tgreat idea. I think your liittle girl will really appreciate it.

[blindyswife]

I think its really sweet!

[snickers]

I think it's a good idea and it's really sweet!

[sonrisa]

We won't call it "big sister day" in future, of course. It will be one of the ways we talk about the birth in the lead up. For the rest of us, the focus of the day will be the baby. However, she will only see the baby for an hour each of those hospital days. I thought I'd shift her focus from the baby she won't see much to her new status.

[winecheery]

I think this is such a cute idea! And I love the idea of the baby giving her a gift. I have sisters whom I am very close to, and I can see how this would have been something we would reminisce about as adults if my mom had thought to do something of this nature.

Out of curiosity, are you doing it just to be sweet/cute, or does LO need help with transition? How old is DD? I just remember when my first sister came along I was about 3 y/o and I was so excited because all along my mom kept telling me how important I was going to be to the new baby, and how much a little sibling would need his or her big sister, and I played Dr. on my mom while she was pregnant a lot, like I had a little Fischer Price kit and I'd "check" on the baby, etc. Just wondering how it's been for your DD so far!

[sonrisa]

Aug 15, 2013 11:50:53 GMT -5 winecheery said:

Out of curiosity, are you doing it just to be sweet/cute, or does LO need help with transition? How old is DD? I just remember when my first sister came along I was about 3 y/o and I was so excited because all along my mom kept telling me how important I was going to be to the new baby, and how much a little sibling would need his or her big sister, and I played Dr. on my mom while she was pregnant a lot, like I had a little Fischer Price kit and I'd "check" on the baby, etc. Just wondering how it's been for your DD so far!

We haven't told her yet. I'm waiting until viability and when she can feel kicks from the outside. She knows mommy is getting chubby. I really like the idea of a drs kit :-)

She shouldn't have more problems than average with the baby transition but it will be a tough fall. FIL is on hospice care and likely will pass soon. The birth will be wonderful, but a little bittersweet for everyone. DD had two grandfathers when she was born. This child won't have any (my father died last year after a hard fight with cancer). I had a really bad recovery last time because of a bad labor experience (a month before I could walk or carry her. over three months before my legs functioned normally again.) I'll be scheduling a c-section to minimize such complications, but I'll still be in bed in pain for a few weeks. I want to provide some distractions and fun as a counterpoint to all that.

[glauren]

I think your idea is absolutely adorable!
I'm so sorry to hear about your father and FIL. My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer right after we found out I was pregnant (thankfully he's doing really well so far); it's so hard to experience such happy and sad events simultaneously.

[winecheery]

sonrisa with these details it sounds like you ALL have a lot of changes ahead--both good and bad. So sorry about your dad, and FIL, and I can totally see why this is really more of a necessity for your DD than a treat, even.

And yeah, I have good memories to this day about playing Dr. while my mom literally just laid on the couch in morning sickness misery lol But I had no clue! I just had a good time