Today is my niece and my godson’s birthday.
My niece will be 11 and my godson will be 10. This day reminds me how important it is to have friends and relatives around you when you have your first child.
My sister has two older children and didn’t plan on having any more when she found out she was pregnant with Mary Claire. At the time, I was struggling to conceive my first child, and the news that she was unexpectedly pregnant was a tough pill to swallow. But five months later, I conceived Maggie, and I can’t tell you the blessing my sister’s third, Mary Claire, has been.
First of all, my sister quit her job to stay home with the new baby and was a constant source of support and companionship to me when Maggie was born. After working full time for years, suddenly being home all day by myself with a newborn was a rough adjustment. I spent many days hanging out at my sister’s house enjoying her friendship and knowledge about babies.
It’s also wonderful for Maggie to have a cousin her age, something I never had. When I needed something special for her to do during last week’s invitational swim meet that she didn’t qualify for — I knew a day with her cousin would be just the thing. I hope the two remain close friends their whole lives.
My godson, on the other hand, came seven months after Maggie was born and is the son of my best friend. We spent many days on the phone while she was pregnant and at work, and I was at home with Maggie. Then when Marty was born, Kathy quit her job to stay home and suddenly I had another friend to while away the days with.
Kathy and I still talk on the phone daily about the struggles of raising kids, and our children have grown up with each other. She’s the one who offered to take all of my kids when Chris and I went on a marriage retreat last winter, and I frequently watch her children when she has errands to do. The bond that started between us when our children were infants has grown stronger over the years, and we hope that our children will always remain close.
So over the past 10 ½ years, there has always been at least two people I could call if I’ve had a horrible night with a sick baby or needed a sympathetic ear after a long day with a terrible toddler. I don’t think I would have made it through my children’s early years without my sister and my friend, going through the same thing at the same time.
Happy Birthday Mary Claire and Marty. I’m so glad you both were born.