Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Middle Child Syndrome Medicine.

Wyatt has been going through a phase (I hope its a phase) that whenever he is upset or disappointed he starts spouting off with "I NEVER..." Sometimes I get his frustration and where he is coming from.

"I NEVER get to sit on that spot on the couch."
"I NEVER get to be Batman on the Wii."
"I Never get to go to first grade birthday parties."

Sometimes I don't get where he is coming from and I chalk it up to Middle Child Syndrome.

"I NEVER get to turn off the TV."
"I NEVER get to go to the bathroom first."
"I NEVER get to open the refrigerator door."

Ridiculous things like that.

Wyatt is the middle child. He does not get as much attention as Max does ,due to school work and activities. Nor does he get as much attention as Jackson, who is not yet 2 and needs help with almost everything.

Every now and then I need to remind Wyatt that he is special and that he does get special treatment every so often.

At the end of our Little League season (back in June) one of our coaches, Lee, suggested we have a pizza party at the local firehouse. The coach is one of the chiefs at the fire department and thought the kids would get a kick out of seeing the trucks up close. While we setting up the party Max and I were invited to go for a ride on one of the engine trucks. We of course said yes. We sat in the back and ooh and ahhed like little kids (Max id a little kid) the entire ride.

The pizza party was a huge success. Towards the end of the party the Chief Lee heard me tell Max not to tell Wyatt that we went for a ride on one of the trucks.

"Wyatt will be upset that he did not get to go." I explained to Chief Lee.

"Well, I will make sure that I take Wyatt another time." Lee responded. "When would be a good time?"

"Actually Wyatt's birthday is tomorrow, what are the chances I could bring him by tomorrow?"

Lee, being the good guy that he is, smiled and said. "How about I bring the engine to your house?"

On Wyatt's fourth birthday a fire engine pulled up in front of our house. Chief Lee asked Wyatt if he wanted a ride. Wyatt of course said yes. Chief Lee took Wyatt around the neighborhood with the lights flashing and the siren blaring.





Every now and then, when Wyatt starts with his "I NEVERS", I show him these pictures and I tell him that Max and Jackson never had a fire engine show up for their birthdays.

A ride in a fire engine is definitely good medicine for Middle Child Syndrome.

15 comments:

Karen (formerly kcinnova) said...

Oh, Yay!!
I'm pretty sure that buys you a lot of "I NEVER"s.

teri said...

man, how cool is that??

you definitely have to make each child feel that they are special, I guess those middle kids need the most attention, which is understandable.

So glad Wyatt got a special day like that.

ericdbolton said...

Wow.. That is awesome to the nth degree..

M@ said...

I'm 41 years old and I think I would have been grinning just as much as he was. That's so effin cool:)

Melinda said...

I am a middle child and have a 'I never' chip on my shoulders. Would you send a hunky fireman over to my house? He won't need to bring the truck.

What a cool present for Wyatt. Brill.

Fickle Cattle said...

Wow, that is the coolest thing ever. Pure awesomeness.

I am Fickle Cattle.

SciFi Dad said...

Very good medicine.

(And holy crap is that cool.)

Bogart said...

Now that is awesome!!! Another reason you get my vote as dad of the year!

James (SeattleDad) said...

That is so cool. Lukas would be in heaven if that happened to him.

Unknown said...

That is about the coolest thing ever.

Anonymous said...

I heard the entire fire department now wears the same boots as Wyatt.

Anonymous said...

Oh, William, if only I had known then what I know now....all it would have taken was a ride on a fire engine!!!!!! to get you over the MCS. You and the Lawn Whisperer... since you BOTH suffer from it..... oh well, too late now.

The Absence of Alternatives said...

Oh my goodness. Fire Chief Lee is so so so sweet! I think a ride on a red shining fire engine is a good medicine for a lot of things!

The Absence of Alternatives said...

Somehow I think my comment could have been interpreted in a naughty way. I swear I did NOT mean it in a naughty way!

sari said...

Awesome present! He'll never forget that. :-)