Big Bro

Early this morning, as I lay on the bed nursing Elizabeth, Joseph crawled in beside us.  "I'm not tired any more," said my sleepy little boy, "I just want to snuggle with the girls."  He wrapped his arms around his little sister and snuggled close.  Elizabeth, being Elizabeth and a social creature, immediately stopped nursing to flip over and smile at her brother.  He smiled back and closed his eyes.  Elizabeth got back to business.

I lay there in the early morning light, the sun barely over the horizon, cool air coming through the open window and the sound of the sprinklers drowning out the occasional passing car.  I rubbed Joseph's arm.  He looked at me and whispered, "What am I doing today?"

"You're going to school today."

"Will I see Peter?"

"I imagine so.  And do you know what else?  Little sister is going to school with you today too!"

"Really?!  I can't wait!  I want her to meet all my friends."

"I'm sure she will, baby."

"Mommy," Joseph said, very seriously, "I'll make sure everyone is nice to 'Lispef.  I'll tell Peter to be nice to her.  And I'll tell Miss Young that she eats baby food.  And I'll tell her that she has to rock her to sleep like this."  He sat up and cradled his arms, rocking back and forth.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, "She's a very lucky little girl to have you for a big brother."

"I'm a good big brother.  I take care of my little sister."  I gave him a hug and kiss, squashing Elizabeth between us.

I'm not going to write about my worries of sending my baby girl to daycare for the first time in her life.  I know that I've been lucky to have family to care for her as long as I have.  I'm not going to mention my sadness.  I know it's the same struggle millions of mothers have - and most much sooner than ten months.

I am going to say that I'm a very, very lucky mommy to have been blessed with two amazing children.  One of whom eased his mother's fears just by being himself.