Welcome Baby

Today my sister Rosie is giving birth to a baby boy, who I can’t wait to meet. I told her I’d change all the diapers whenever I’m around just so I could score a few extra minutes with him. This baby’s already a lucky one, with two amazing parents, two sets of doting grandparents, a pack of cuddle-hungry aunties and uncles on both sides, big cousin Ax who says he is “ready to take care of” a new baby in the family, and a two-year-old big brother who’s trained how to bottle feed and hold a baby boy doll. This family is ready for showtime.

But even with all that he’s gonna be a human, on Earth, which has its challenges, it’s ups and downs. Here’s some of what I want to tell this new baby, which is the kind of thing I’ve found helpful for myself. Since he’s not me maybe it’ll fall flat but it’s what I’ve got:

Dear baby,

You’ll get a name soon, but that name won’t be who you are. You’ll take up residence in your nursery, but your surroundings won’t be who you are. You’ll have people in your life, including me, who will try to love you as best they can. These people, what they do, how they treat you, things they say, are not who you are. Your gorgeous body is not who you are.

You are you. You are magnificent, you are large, you are powerful, you are alive. You are a force, a person, here to be you and live in your you-ness. I wish I could tell you what that means, but I can’t and no one else can either. I hope you enjoy your process of finding out. I am so glad you’re joining us. Welcome to your journey. I’d be honored to keep you company on it, as much as makes sense for both of us. Love, Your Auntie Sascha

So he’s being born today, and other people are dying today, and right now I’m somewhere in the middle, moving along, keeping going, being me who once was a baby and eventually will die, in the company of all these other people in the same boat. Well alrighty then. I’m gonna try to have a nice time today.