Saturday, June 13, 2009

The Love Of Two

I am terrified of having 2 children, not on the taking care of aspect but the love aspect. I am afraid I won't have enough for this new one or Adelaide will feel like I don't have time for her. It's been just Adelaide and I, but now we are going to add lil Christian. Anyways... Someone posted this in my pregnancy group and I thought it was interesting.

The Love Of Two~ author unknown

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'm 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 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.

1 comment:

  1. That is beautiful! The other thing that I think about is that baby #2 will never know what it's like to have me all to him or herself. That's not fair either! Thankfully I know that God will supply the energy, love and patience that we need :)

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