Ds1 is slapdash and carefree, ds2 is meticulous and precise ... and it's causing jealousy.

[colditz]

I do try very hard to point out all the lovely and clever things ds1 can do, at the grand old age of 4.8, but unfortunately, things like drinking out of a cup, using a fork, not spilling things off a plate and moving things instead of trying to go through them seem to be a natuaral part of ds2's (20 months old) nature.

I am always having to remind ds1 not to eat with him fingers, not to just boot things out of the way, to get a cloth if he spills a drink - and his 20 month old brother has been doing all these things since he was physically capable. Ds1 is getting upset that his brother never seems to get told off for carelessness - but in all fairness, ds2 isn't careless!

Has anyone else successfully dealt with this?

.

I think it generally comes with age, and that DS2 has just grasped it early. When DS was about three, he was colouring in in a book on the floor his coordination was none to brilliant. We ended up with black crayola markers all over the new carpet. Needless to say I not best pleased, why didn't you tell me ??? ( I repeated ad nauseaum) He gave a shrug and said I didn't think you would notice !!! and toddled off.....

He has improved and will now tell me when he he drops something or spills something.I constantly repeat the mantra, Thats OK these things happen but it is better that I know when they do happen.

HTH

Thanks Brie, I do wish I could be that calm! They both still use anyway up cups (and I have tried open topped cups but ds1 can only not spill it if sat at the table) but to be brutally honest, it is a need both of them, if I want my floor to not smell of sour milk!

another afternoon of ds1 rebounding off the walls and ds2 pottering around calmly replacing books, megablocks etc