We Love Our Baby

We love this little guy. When a new baby comes into this family he or she always becomes the center of attention. Christopher is no different. The kids love to hold, talk to and play with him. They love having another little baby in the family. I have never had to deal with jealousy or resentment in my home due to a new baby. I feel like that is in large part because Tim and I both always emphasize two things with our kids. 1. Babies are a great and wonderful gift from God to us. 2. You are not the center of the universe therefore sacrifice is mandatory, not optional.
I think this combo must be working. Even in those moments when my kids are leaning heavily towards the selfishness and self-centeredness that is naturally in us all from birth, if I remind them of how ugly or hurtful it is to be selfish they generally "wake up" and change their tune. Example: "Morgan hold the baby for me while I make dinner ok?" "mom (in an extremely whiney voice) I don't want to he wiggles too much and he pulls my hair...(the reality is she wants to watch Cyberchase on PBS and doesn't want to be bothered) "Morgan - your brother needs you and so do I now stop it and hold him 'cause he loves you so much just look at him!" Christopher with perfect timing looks at his big sis and gives her a drooly wet grin. "Ok mom - come here Chris you wittle cutie - I love you too I love you too..."Morgan walks off with him and continues her baby talk to him happily.
Last night Tim and I were watching Nancy Grace and she was discussing a case of a 3 mth old baby found on the side of the road. They played the 911 call from the man who found the baby while he and his wife were walking together. He was weeping on the line. Tim and I both listened and I cried too of course. We were so caught up in the story and the details of this horrible case we failed to notice that it had caught the attention of Morgan and Mary Grace who had come into the room to say goodnight to us. They started asking a lot of questions. I always tell them these kinds of truths very gently. But I always tell the truth. I never lie to them about the evil in the world but I always gives them a sense of HOPE that this is not how the world will always be. I use these moments to teach them that God wants them to grow and learn so that they can make this world a better place. Their lives make a difference and their prayers are powerful. We all prayed together...Morgan reminded me "Mom he's a saint now." "Yes I know Morgan I just wish this world would be a better place" "It will be mom"
This morning as we prayed the rosary in the car as I drove the girls to school Mary interrupted "Mom I'm thinking of that baby." "Me too Mary." We finished the rosary. I looked back over my shoulder to see the faces of my kids. They love their baby. They love that baby. They love ALL babies. I felt proud. I must be doing something right.