Mums' Stories

I have discovered that being a mum is nothing like I expected, and everything I wanted it to be (and sometimes everything I didn’t want it to be too!). I have just given birth 4 weeks ago to our second daughter, with our eldest not quite two yet. Needless to say we have been inundated with comments of “Well now you will know you are alive!”, or “Are you crazy?!”...and as it was an unplanned pregnancy of sorts, I must admit I definitely agreed with these cynics early in my pregnancy.
Before Katie was born, Lily was the centre of our universe and I am sure we were hers. We explained to her that Katie was coming along, and being under 2 years old we really had no idea how much she was taking in – if any of it! But she was gorgeous none the less, with kissing my belly every night as she went to bed, reading her stories in my belly, and her favourite story was titled “There’s a house inside my mummy” so I am sure she understood more than we gave her credit for. Still she cried when I held other babies, and was exceptionally jealous of other children near me so we were not sure what to expect.
However from that very first moment Lily laid eyes on Katie, it has been just adorable to watch! Whilst she has been a bit jealous and hesitant with myself at times, she has been totally nurturing and adorable with her little sister. Every morning she wakes up, kisses her sister on the forehead and says “Hello precious girl” or “Morning gorgeous” and every morning it brings tears to my eyes (part of that is hormones I am sure!)! She helps burp and feed her, change her nappy - and wants to share her breakfast with her too! So mums, even though there will still be tears and tantrums, sleep deprived nights and moments of total frustration with those older siblings, maybe they will surprise you in their capacity for being gentle and nurturing at such a young age, and I have discovered that having two is not as difficult as I thought it would be! After all when the toddler is not quite two, we still forget what sleep feels like huh mums and dads?????