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