OH THE LOVE, THE LOVE

We braced ourselves. We watched other people with their children. We took note of the things to watch out for. But nothing has quite prepared us for the story which unfolds whenever Max is around Pia.

I picked Max up from daycare this afternoon, and had a wonderful chat with one of his carers. She mentioned how maternal Max is, how sweet he is with all the babies when he goes into the babies room. He strokes their cheeks. My heart melts.

Now multiply all that tenfold when Max is at home with Pia. He loves that baby in the most pure, astonishing way. He can’t get enough of her – he covers her hands and feet with little kisses. He watches everything I do with her and copies me in my words, tone and actions. He gives her toys to play with. He draws a chair up to her bassinet and settles her if she starts crying. He pats her stomach, and then makes her smile big broad smiles. He loves to lie next to her playing with her.

I’ve seen other children turn their back on their siblings. I’ve watched as they fight and assert their dominance as the elder child. But Max, well, he just includes Pia in everything we do and say. This baby has become such an integral part of his being and life. He defends her and me in public, and there have been times when I’ve been moved to maternal tears at the things he has said to other people. The compassion one small child has for the family unit he belongs to is just beautiful. It is everything we hoped we had instilled in him, and everything we hoped he would become with a sister in his life.

Does it sound idyllic? Yes. But if I ask him to Get. Off. Her. Now. one more time…This baby will surely be squashed with an overbearing over excited 3 year old brother at some point. Then again, if he treats the women in his life half as well as he treats Pia, he’ll break hearts the world over.