Lessons in Parenting a Decade of Sisters
Ten years ago, I became a Mum for the second time, two beautiful girls, just eighteen months apart and I thought, I had some idea of this parenting gig after the first one. But oh, how wrong I was!
Life had its own plan, chuckling as it handed me my second daughter, a total opposite in every imaginable way:
Miss S, the dream night sleeper, fed like clockwork and hardly made a peep.
Miss P, well, she made me question if sleep was a mythical concept, was never satisfied with her feed and could rival a choir with her lungs.
Fast forward a decade, and they're still polar opposites:
Miss S’ bedroom looks like a whirlwind disaster zone, while Miss P’s room resembles a page from a home decor magazine, everything meticulously in its place.
Socially, one effortlessly makes friends, while the other prefers the comfort of a close-knit circle.
The differences between my daughters, has given me a crash course in embracing individuality and taught me invaluable lessons about parenting and sisterhood.
Firstly, it's been an eye-opener realising that no matter how similar the environment or upbringing, children can possess wildly different personalities. Embracing these differences has reminded me of the beauty of individuality. I've learned to celebrate their differences rather than trying to mould them into predefined roles.
Parenting styles, I’ve come to understand, are not one-size-fits-all. What works wonders for one child might be an absolute flop with the other. It means being open to adapting techniques to suit the unique needs of each child. It's about staying agile and ready to try new strategies tailored to their temperaments.
Communication took on a whole new level; I've had to refine my approach, adapting to their preferences and behaviours. Validating their emotions and guiding them to understand each other's feelings and finding common ground became crucial tools in the parenting kit.
With opposite personalities come frequent clashes. As a parent, I've found myself honing various conflict resolution strategies, each tailored to accommodate the temperament of each daughter. Negotiation, empathy, and compromise became essential lessons for them, and for me.
Raising these girls has prompted both myself and my husband to embark on a journey of self-reflection. It’s made us confront our biases, preferences, and reactions. This self-awareness has given us the opportunity to parent to our strengths for each daughter, tackling the journey together.
So, here I am, a decade into this whirlwind journey of sisterhood, endlessly grateful for the lessons they've taught me.
