IS JEALOUSY OF A NEW BABY INEVITABLE?       If you had been in the center-stage spotlight and were suddenly displaced, would you like it? Neither does a three-year-old, or a child of any age, who suddenly feels unimportant. Sometimes a father feels a little jealous about all the attention baby is getting… perhaps rightly so. Maybe others in the family need to continue getting attention, affection and love after baby comes. Just suppose you are three-year-old Betty. For all of Betty’s life there have been just the right number of people at home – mom, dad … and Betty. Then the word gets out – and a competitor is on the way to share her house, her room, her yard, her toys – and even mom and dad. To make matters worse, the intruder comes after a poorly explained absence of mother. For all Betty knows, mother may disappear again and may return with a mountain goat, giraffe, alligator, monster … or another baby! Of course, Betty is going to resent competition. But by making her feel important, and a part of the new event … letting her anticipate the arrival of her new baby … and with some new privileges … and maybe with a promotion from “private” to “corporal” … and maybe by receiving the first words of greeting when grandma comes to visit … along with some special solo time and attention from dad, and from mom … maybe Betty might even like the new baby … some of the time.