3 year old (NT) seems to have become disabled by osmosis.

[Jenkeywoo]

DD2 is nearly two and has spastic diplegia cerebral palsy - she has just learnt to crawl and is getting her first pair of AFO's next week.

DD1 is 3.5 - and NT but has lately starting picking up some of dd2's way of doing things. She crawls around on the floor with her which is quite nice really but has also developed an affected arm - dd2 has very little use of her right arm so now dd1 sits at the dinner table plate sliding around everywhere and right arm hanging limply at her side! She also claims not to be able to put on socks and shoes etc - stuff she has been able to do in the past. When I do dd's leg stretches she lies down too and gets me to do her too!

I know it's an attention thing but I do try really hard to give her special attention too - for example I take her to her ballet class at the weekend which her little sister can't do and I do things like making cakes when dd2 is asleep. I really am trying my hardest to juggle the needs of both my children but am really strugggling. Dd1 has become whiny and babyish and it's like having a disabled 2 year old and a little whiny one year old at the moment. (I've posted on another thread that dd1 has glue ear and I'm hoping that is the cause of some of these behaviour things).

I just feel utterly burnt out.

Jenkeywoo
sibs do imitate. My DD copied DS2 and it was for a multitude of reasons. They copy everythig at that age which is why they do sweeoing up and tea parties. when we got a dog she wanted to sleep in his bed. She trys to copy DS1 but he is too big for her so she copies DS2 - putting her hands over her ears, standing on chairs etc.

i tried to just be neutral about it. Sometimes I would ask her had she seen DD as I could only find 2 DS2's.

It is frustrating but it is just a phase. And don't feel guilty /negative about it. They are just copying the physical styles and behaviours . It is not some deep seated emotional angst about their sib

thanks pagwatch - I know it's not a deep seated problem but it is a problem for me every day when I'm trying to get them dressed and give them breakfast and I've got a 3 year old refusing to help themselves - and demanding to be spoon fed by me whilst her little sister is having a go at feeding herself. I just don't know how to handle it with dd1 without upsetting her further as she seems very fragile emotionally at the moment. I think she is starting to realise that her little sis is not the same as other children her age and she is starting to talk about how sad it makes her feel that her little sis can't run around in the garden with her.