Middle Child Syndrome?

What to say! Atih's growing up moments were very dramatic. from the days she was a toddler, the crying that she perfected so well, the kicking bouts that she practised on us, the tantrums that she displayed in many difficult mornings before going to school: all turned her into a handful charge for us.

Her nagging for attention made us spent the nights massaging her legs( she complained very often)  but she looked ok during the day...the doctor said maybe she was asking for attention...understood as she is the middle child, sardined between 3 elder siblings and 4 younger ones

The troubled challenging time was quite obvious so much so that i decided to continue my studies (masters) just to focus on Middle Child Syndrome ( Birth Order) hoping to grab a clearer picture of what was bothering her so much that made her like that.

Day by day, somehow, she started to change when she turned 16, quite late but still a welcome one.  She became more responsible, reliable and understanding. was it because she knew i was studying her behaviour, or she just grew up and out of her rebellious years.  Haha, then i stopped studying coz she was not a suitable subject anymore...her change of attitude just did not help me in my observation. 

Looking at her now makes me smile and shake my head as the trials of bringing her up is really a good lesson for us. She makes our life livelier, more colourful and different.

Atih and Highland Towers

20th Dec 1993, 22 days after the Highland Towers collapsed, i gave birth to atih, through forced delivery..the most painful of all. Imagine she was 12 days overdue and i did not show any signs of delivering. the Pengkalan Chepa Clinic doctor referred me to Kota Bharu Hospital.

The night of the set date, i could not sleep...tried to imagine what would happened the next day. suddenly the nurse asked me to enter labour room at 3am....biar betui...so i went and waited and waited...nothing done...finally the doctor said...never mind, we do it tomorrow....amboi senang hati depa buat camtu.

At 9 in the morning, the doctor induced me ( no drip but pills) and after one hour, the pain started and persisted until 4 pm. i was all alone and God knows how i suffered ...this kind of pain was very different, the interval was very short..but the nurse said still ok....hang bukan rasa misi oi....

Finally, at about 4, one nurse came and checked and was so surprised to see that the dilation was about 8cm....she rushed me into the LR and finally at 4.45pm, atih made her appearance....this was the most challenging.luckilly the nurse on duty was very kind. young but skillful. she offered me milo immediately after that, knowing well that i was very thirsty....at the same time, i heard the doctors and nurses talking about makan bubur kacang and whatnot....for them delivering is just a business..very relaxed and selamber aje.

That nite, tok accompanied me as i was in Ward 1...the next morning discharged, only one day before the hospital was flooded....mujur i dan balik.....tu la kisah atih.....