| Are you the parent of an only child? Has it | | | | population has trouble conceiving the second |
| been a challenge for you? If you're like us, | | | | time around. Do you think that has stopped |
| you have to be creative in keeping your | | | | our son from reminding us that he would love |
| little one occupied. Otherwise, you get to | | | | a brother or sister...soon? Of course not! |
| relive your childhood all over again because | | | | |
| you become your child's consummate playmate. | | | | So, we've implemented what we call "Operation |
| | | | Brotherly Love". Our son is clueless when it |
| I always imagined I'd have a houseful of | | | | comes to O.B.L. But, he joyfully reaps the |
| children. There were five of us growing up, | | | | benefits of the system we put in place for |
| and in my young heart, I dreamed that I would | | | | entertaining our little one. |
| have the same number of children my parents | | | | |
| had because of all the fun (and sometimes | | | | Being an only child, we worried that it would |
| mischief) my siblings and I had with one | | | | cause our son to be shy. And at first, he |
| another. If anyone would've told me that by | | | | was. But thanks to "Operation Brotherly |
| the time my son turned ten that he would not | | | | Love," I'm proud to announce that our boy is |
| have any siblings, I would've laughed and | | | | a social butterfly. |
| called them crazy! But, that's just what | | | | |
| happened. | | | | Here's what O.B.L. is all about: surrounding |
| | | | your child with other children that they can |
| Getting pregnant with our one and only was a | | | | interact with! And boy is it fun! Enlist help |
| cinch. In fact, it was so easy, my husband | | | | from neighbors! Get to know the parents of |
| and I thought we were Mr. and Mrs. Fertility. | | | | classmates. Got nieces or nephews? They're |
| We knew for sure Baby Number Two would come | | | | the perfect playmates for your unaccompanied |
| as natural as the sun rising in the east. You | | | | minor! |
| can probably imagine our disappointment when | | | | |
| after a year of trying again, and still no | | | | Granted, this may cause your house to look |
| baby for the effort. | | | | like the local recreation center on the |
| | | | weekend, but it certainly gives you a break |
| Fortunately, in our case, neither of us had | | | | from having to spend countless hours playing |
| any health problems. For whatever reason, it | | | | dolls or video games. My son now has more |
| just hadn't happened. To our surprise, we | | | | "sisters and brothers" to play with than any |
| were informed that a large segment of the | | | | other child I know. Yours can, too! |