By Jeana Lee Tahnk
In the moments after my third baby was born, my first thoughts were
of telling my two older kids and having them meet their new sister. It
was a Thursday night and close to their bedtime, but since we live so
close to the hospital, my parents brought them over for a brief first
encounter with their new sibling.
I had given birth about an hour prior and was still in the midst
of post-birth medical care, but the moment they walked in, wide-eyed and
full of wonder, time stood still for a split second. Seeing my two
older kids (who suddenly seemed like such big kids) and remembering
exactly when they were as little as their new baby sister was such a
nostalgic, bittersweet and special moment for me. Talk about waterworks.
The following day was what I consider to be our real, first family
time together. My husband surprised our older kids by picking them up
from school at lunchtime so they could come to the hospital and spend
their afternoon with their baby sister. In a much calmer setting,
without the flurry of nurses and tests, they were able to hold her in
her sleepy, bundled state and get that sibling bonding time in.
They were so proud to be a big brother and sister and amazed me so
much, showing how mature, caring and nurturing they could be to someone
they had just met.
For the whole afternoon, the five of us were together in that
little hospital room. The kids took turns holding the baby, played with
the mechanics of the adjustable hospital bed, delighted in the fact that
I could order "room service" from the cafeteria downstairs and helped
the nurses take my blood pressure.
Those few hours were truly special and affirmed our decision to
have another baby. Our family of four added a new member that day, yet
it felt as though she was always meant to be there.
Read More by Jeana Lee Tahnk