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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>288 words,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Surviving Siblings<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>I heard a wail from the hall bathroom. Rushing in, I found my two-year-old youngest child with only her hands, feet and head protruding from the toilet. Her 14-year-old brother had failed to replace the insert designed to provide a comfortable perch for his baby sister. She scrambled up and tried to balance on the edge of the full-sized seat. As I reached for my baby girl, her four-year-old big sister cried, “Flush mommy, flush!” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Later that afternoon, my friends and fellow La Leche League leaders were gathered in my kitchen to plan out our next joint meeting in my home. Anywhere from 10 to fifteen women accompanied by infants, toddlers and preschool children would fill my open-plan kitchen, dining and living room. Many of the women were likely to be expecting the arrival of a new baby. Terri, Carol and I were certified to teach breastfeeding and baby care. We took turns hosting meetings supported by the others to provide light refreshments and making presentations on everything from giving birth to nutrition. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>I shared my story of the bathroom mishap. Terri added a story of her own. Her five-year-old son was caught trying to close his two-year-old younger brother into the kitchen trash compacter. Carol described how her darling six-year-old son Nicholas had looked in disgust at his newborn sister in Carol’s arms declaring that he had been hoping she would be a football. All I could conclude was sibling rivalry must start as soon as the next in-line arrived on the scene. I thought I’d better add an overview of how to prepare older siblings for the new kid in town, when I had to teach the section on preparing for your baby’s arrival.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>DeAnna Quietwater Noriega<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Cell: 573-544-3511<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Email: <a href="mailto:dqnoriega@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>dqnoriega@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Author of <i>Fifty Years of Walking with Friends<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>https://www.dldbooks.com/dqnoriega/</span></i><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>