CHRISTMAS IN MARCH
By Anne Donegan Costas
Christmas
It felt like Christmas Eve. There were no Nativities, no Christmas trees, no carolers, and no bright lights. And yet the feel of Christmas was in the air. That same exciting expectation of a new birth at Christmastime abounded. I took the obligatory family picture of Mom and Dad with the children as they left for the hospital. It was time for the new baby to arrive!
BEFORE BABY
My grandchildren were anything but all snug in their beds. They were racing around the driveway, waving, clapping their hands, and had the biggest grins on their faces ever! What true excitement. Their eyes glistening with the hope of new life and new beginnings. Their ages at the time were 9, 8, and 5. The 15 year old was not at home at the time.
BEFORE THE BABY
New beginnings are usually exciting. However, they can be intimidating, challenging, scarey, and awesome. And, this one, was no different. The children were so sweet during the pregnancy wanting to check on the baby constantly and talking with him. There was constant discussion of what to name the baby. Everyone had fun being silly about what to name him. They did come up with one or two names during the nine month period, but none were accepted by their parents.
HOSPITAL STAY
The children did have school the next day but had permission from parents to come to see the baby as soon as he was born. This meant they might miss some school. One of the children knew for certain he would be born in the middle of the night and they wouldn’t have to go to school at all. We got the text around 5 a.m. that Luke had arrived. So the prediction by one of the children had come true. We would not be going to school that day. Get up, dress, eat, and be off for the hospital.
VISITING THE HOSPITAL
The kids were absolutely perfect. They walked in quietly, were quiet and respectul in the room. We immediately looked at the baby. The children were in awe of this new life, a wee thing, a tiny reflection of what they might have looked like just a few years before. After the family picture now with baby on the outside each child got their turn of holding the baby. Each child just radiated love as they held this new babe of theirs in their arms touching his tiny fingers and kissing his face.
COMING HOME
The next day the children went to school with the knowledge that their parents would be home by dinner time. Going to school didn’t seem to be as hard for them as I thought it would be. They knew they would see baby after school. And the weekend wasn’t far behind.
NEW BEGINNINGS
So now the family is 7. Life for each child is different because each child is born into a family with different dynamics. And each child changes the dynamics of a family and so the family is really not the same for any two children. This is why children growing up in the same family can have totally different perspectives of their parents and their memories of events can be miles apart. However, each is still a part of this thing we call family which remains one of the strongest, most important bonds we have here on earth with each other.
Oh Annie, I’m so happy for them and for the whole extended family. What a blessing. I cannot wait to meet the addition, I’m sure he will be as amazingly beautiful and sweet as their other wonderful children. Much love.
Danielle—thank you for reading my blog. you are the first person to respond to any of my postings. you cannot imagine how good
it feels for me!!! thank you!! thank you!! you made my day!!!
auntie annie