Many of those who have more than one child in the family while one of them is more attention and care demanding may agree to me the amount of guilt that we also carry on our shoulders. Out of stress, sleep deprivation, and frustrations, we often catch ourselves throwing those out at our other child(ren) while all they have done is just being a child/ children.
These kids are there often showing their unconditional love towards their sibblings in their own ways. My son of 9 years old loves Sami to the moon, and will do anything for her. If I ask him to do something for her, he would do it immediately, while if I ask him to do something for me, he might first prioritize his own needs/ wishes ahead of my requests.
I just want to say to Julian how much I love him and even though things didn't work out between his dad and I, and he has ended up having to be in two households first, with a stepdad, and a half-sister whom he takes as just his own 100% sister, he definitely is the best thing ever happened in the failed marriage of mine with his dad. With his dad moving out of the country, our once-upon-a-time dream house went empty to be handed over to the new owners, he and I are undoubtfully having a bit of hard time in dealing with closing that chapter, though I know it's the best for us all. Julian is being put onto a spot that a lot of other kids don't have to deal with. I can only hope that he will turn out alright, and realizes at a certain point in his life how much we all love him.
I know it's not easy for Julian to realize his own father has no relationship at all with his sister, Sami, as he has asked that question several times. He can see how much my husband loves Sami, and how dedicated father he is, being there for her, coming home from work and bathing her. Julian has said plenty of times that one day when he becomes a father, he will come straight home for his kids, and will not go to the pub because home is where his family is.
Julian is definitely an intelligent child, and sometimes he can drive us all up to wall. He will do things like any other children do, including lying, wanting to be behind his i-devices all day long if it's up to him, not liking to do household chaos, preferring playing all day long out there, etc. And yes, we as his parents/ stepfather, will need to say things over and over again, and he will keep forgetting. But look at us, we were once upon a time children too, who did more or less the sam things to our parents without now remembering those entirely, nor do our parents (ok, at least most of them are forgotten as they had been forgiven. I'm sure one day when looking back, all the naughty stuff that Julian is now doing would be forgiven and forgotten. I hope to keep being proud of him every day. He is my sunshine so as Sami.
I love you, Julian and Sami! And of course, I love my hubby too!!!!
