Party of Four
When I was expecting our daughter—our second and final baby—I was looking for someone to tell me it would be okay to go from one kiddo to two. I was riding a hormone-induced emotional roller coaster and was desperately searching for someone to give me a glimpse of what the end of the ride might look like. Would my son hate me? Would I be able to adequately divide my attention? Was it possible to feel the same kind of love I did for my firstborn with another tiny human?
Oh how I wish I would have known then what I know now! That even though I felt like I was ripping away my firstborn’s chance at happiness, that I was actually stitching together parts of his personality God knew he needed. That instead of taking our undivided attention away from him, I was giving him his built-in best friend. That as soon as she arrived, I could not remember how we ever lived without her. That yes, everything was going to change for our family, but that change was the best thing to ever happen to us. That the feeling that I was breaking up our sweet family dynamic was nothing to the overwhelming sense of peace that our family was now complete after meeting our daughter.
Mama, if you are in a place that you feel like wanting another kiddo was a mistake, please hear me out: You have no idea how much better it is going to get! Giving your little one a sibling is the best way to teach them so many things—how to share, how to be selfless, how to care for someone else, and—at the end of the day—how to unconditionally love. Your relationship with your firstborn will only grow stronger and sweeter as you witness them become a sibling. Your heart’s capacity will grow more than you ever knew possible. I know it can feel overwhelming, and jugging multiple kids can definitely feel like a circus act some days, but adding another tiny human to your family will multiply your fun exponentially.
You are not alone in your feelings, even the pang of guilt that creeps in when you realize that you are not 100% excited for what might be to come. But, just in case no one has told you this yet, the end of the ride is SO MUCH better than you ever could have imagined!