June 04, 2007

[2nd child]

Reading the mom's forum that i'm on - M4M, there's a really sweet and touching poem that one of the expectant mum posted. I cried buckets after reading it - it expresses all the feelings and fears that i'm going through now with G. It also gives me hope - the later part of the poem is something i myself as an only child had never had to go through - i just pray that it will be something to look forward to.

Here's the Poem (thanks R)

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before.

I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me. And I hear myself telling you in mine, “I can’t, knowing, in fact, that I never can again.

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying him—as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.

But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.

I watch how he adores you — as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you. I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you—only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply.

I love you—-both. And I thank you both for blessing my life. —Author Unknown

4 comments:

twosweetkids said...

this is lovely, and so true, too. :)

Anonymous said...

holy #($)#@)(%...
i was just saying this exact thing to my hubby, we have a 2 yr. old and i told him i cant give up our special relationship yet, i want to hold onto that special time for a while more yet, and i am so afraid that i cant love another as much as i love her...but i guess like this said, it will be as strong, but different.

Anonymous said...

The peom is so true... initially before S was born, I got the same feeling. But as time passed, the later part of the peom is so true.

{ Yu'er } said...

I printed it out and read it last week and read again and again after that. I have 2 lovely girls and I have gone through that by now, but still so touched by it.