My Bipolar Baby

Figuratively speaking.

No two kids are alike, they say. This statement couldn’t be more true when it comes to my two daughters, who are 4 and 1.5 at the time of this article.

My first daughter was what many family and friends have said — an easy baby. It was never a cake walk, but she was overall a content little one. She let life happen as it came. She mostly slept when she was supposed to, even if we were not home and out with family. Others always told my wife and I that she’s, “such a good, quiet little girl.” In hindsight, she really was.

Then the second one came along. Oh boy, what a difference. I feels like from day one, she’s happier than my first child ever was at the same age. Yet, if my younger daughter is upset, or worse, angry… Watch out!!!

It may be that my wife and I get the first-hand perspective on this, and maybe this is more normal than I realize. I have never seen any of my other nieces, nephews, or friends’ children go from such an extreme of happiness to such an angry crying fit in the moment of a heart beat. It is unreal.

When this little girl is happy, she lights up the room. A real charmer. When she gets upset, prepare to plug your ears and do what you can to calm her down. She’s burst blood vessels in face and neck a few times from crying so hard.

It is a real challenge to accept that this is simply the way some kids can be, especially when the first child was such a dream, behaviour-wise.