SIL announced her pregnancy just a few hours after DC's birth

[Anonymous]

You say to her: "Awesome! I'm so happy "Molly" will have a cousin to grow up with!"

You say to yourself: "Bitch."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be delighted! What fun for my child to have a cousin so close in age. And how natural that in her excitement about your child's arrival she shared her news.

Double congratulations!

+1

[Anonymous]

I would be happy and excited for her. I would be half my child would have a cousin so close in age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, it's one thing to be respectful of someone's accomplishment/event/news. It's another to have to maintain silence and avoid sharing your own happy thoughts because of some silly notion of "stealing thunder".

If you're genuinely happy for someone - you don't begrudge them their moment to shine. And you are kind enough to step back and let them bask in the spotlight for a little while. That's the kind thing to do.

SIL could have announced a week or so earlier or later. But she chose the day Op had her baby. Only she knows why she did that, maybe she was planning to wait and just burst at the seams, sometimes that happens. At any rate, another new baby in the family is very joyous news!

[Anonymous]

People who say they wouldn't care have obviously never been in the situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who say they wouldn't care have obviously never been in the situation.

Or they are spotlight stealers...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who say they wouldn't care have obviously never been in the situation.

I've been in many similar situations in my life due to a "favored child" dynamic in my family (which is not worth going into here). I agree that it can sting momentarily when someone puts the focus on them when we feel it is our moment, however I've learned to recognize the pang of jealousy, not judge it, and move on so that i can be happy. Try it -- it feels great to free yourself from negative energy that will only hold you back personally and get in the way of your relationships with others.

[Anonymous]

Would you rather she announce it the week before your DC was born? Or would you have been pouting in that case, too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who say they wouldn't care have obviously never been in the situation.

I have. A relative told me she was pregnant when she visited me in the hospital after DC's birth. I was happy.

I don't get how someone else's happiness diminishes your own. What a pathetic way to live!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would feel kinda crappy because I'm low, petty and immature for even taking the time to post such a question when I have newborn baby to love and care for.

+100
Is this your first child OP? I guarantee you that your child will upstage you and grab your relative's attention constantly over the years. Will you be pouting about that too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who say they wouldn't care have obviously never been in the situation.

I have. A relative told me she was pregnant when she visited me in the hospital after DC's birth. I was happy.

I don't get how someone else's happiness diminishes your own. What a pathetic way to live!

Did she choose that day to announce her pregnancy to the world? Or was she talking to you, excited for you and mentioned it spur of the moment?

[Anonymous]

Announced to who? In what way? Need more info. Inclination though is that she was trying to be respectful of you and wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would you rather she announce it the week before your DC was born? Or would you have been pouting in that case, too?

This is what I was thinking, too. And I agree with the posters who would be psyched to have cousins so close in age.

[Anonymous]

Maybe she thought that it would make your baby's birth even more fun and exciting for the family, knowing that another baby is on the way as well. I would have been thrilled to hear that my sister or extended family members were pregnant when I gave birth to our first, or second. But then, I genuinely wish them well and want to share in their happiness, and they know it. We're much more in the "more teh merrier" camp when it comes to celebrations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually even before congratulating us for the birth of our first child.

How would you feel?

Hooray! More babies!

My child is going to have a cousin about the same age! That's awesome!