the 4 of us

Hi I’m Linda.  

I have jet black hair, honey brown eyes and everyone says I have a kind smile.

I love to play and dance, and most of all I love my family. 

Would you like to hear about my family?

When my mother smiles she has beautiful little wrinkles next to her eyes. And she smiles and laughs a lot, because my dad has a great sense of humor. I don’t understand all of his jokes, but my mom does. 

I also have a baby brother. Before he was born it was just the three of us. And I liked it just fine.

Spending time with my mom and dad is always very special. Especially when it’s all about me, Like when they take me out to eat ice cream, or when we go to the playground together. I love it when dad pushes me when I’m on the swing. I love playing hide and seek with my mom. And before my baby brother was born it was just the three of us. And I liked it just fine.

one day, mom called for a family meeting.

“I’m expecting,” she declared.

I got all excited: “What are you expecting?” I asked. “Is it a parcel from the post office? Did Granny send me something special?”

“No” said mom, “I’m expecting a baby”.

Before that announcement it was just the three of us. And I liked it just fine.

The days passed, and mom’s tummy got bigger and bigger. She must have been eating a lot, because she was huge. 

One day it was time to go pick up the baby from the hospital. 

I remember it was a wonderful day, because Granny came to spend time with me while mom and dad were at the hospital.

Having Granny all to myself was much fun! And I liked it just fine.

“How do the babies get to the hospital?” I asked Granny. “Does the stork know where to drop them off? How do they choose the mother and father for each baby? Can they read? What happens if they get lost on the way?”

I don’t know why Granny thought all my questions were funny. Maybe my sense of humor is like dad’s?

Mommy’s tummy was much smaller when they came back from the hospital. They must have starved her there.

She was holding a little parcel in her hands, wrapped up in a blue blanket. The parcel was moving… And crying… The parcel was a baby.

“Meet your baby brother Daniel,” said mom. 

Looks like it’s the four of us now, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.

What can I do with a baby? I wondered. I tried to play with him, but he just lay there on the blanket on the floor. 

I tried to talk to him but he just looked at me. I even tried to hold him, but when I picked him up he cried. What a boring little thing! 

From now on it’s the four of us and I don’t think I like it.

The days passed and mom had less and less time for me. Dad was very busy too. 

“Mom!” I said “look at me doing a cartwheel!”

“Not now!” said mom “I’m too busy”

Nothing I do could get mom’s attention.

She only spent time with Daniel, she didn’t want me anymore! Only Daniel.

From now on it’s the four of us and I know I don’t like it at all.

I tried to have fun with the baby, I tried to make him laugh but it was no good.

Mom and dad did not pay any attention to me either, I had tried my best for days but I still felt unwanted.

Mom didn’t love me anymore, the baby didn’t love me either and Dad was just too busy to notice.

From now on it’s the four of us and I feel lost.

I sat in the corner and I started crying. “Things are never going to be the same again” I thought. I felt miserable…

And just then, when I was feeling the worst, I felt a hand on my shoulder. 

I turned around, it was mom.

“What’s wrong dolly?” My Mommy asked.

“No one loves me anymore!” I cried. “You and dad are busy loving the baby, but what about me? The baby doesn’t even like me- I tried playing with him…”

“I understand you are feeling left out,” said mom. “Sometimes when there are new little babies, older sisters might be afraid that the mommy and daddy don’t have enough room in their hearts for two children. But don’t worry, parent’s hearts are very big, and there is room for everyone.”

Dad came into the room and agreed with Mom: “And now that we have two children, our hearts are twice the size”.

“We love you Linda dolly” they said, and gave me a big squeezy hug. I love it when they call me dolly. I felt much better.

After that, I sat down with Daniel on my lap and gave him milk from the bottle.

He was happy and I was happy too! Maybe Daniel and I could be friends after all? 

Daniel made a little fart and smiled at me. That made me giggle.

His diaper was very smelly, I was very happy having Daniel as my new baby brother and friend, but I decided my job was done. My Dad should do the messy work. He likes yucky nappies, he thinks it’s funny to say “Bombs away!!!!” – he really does have a funny sense of humor. 

“From now on it’s the four of us” I said “ and I think I’ll like it even better than before!”

                             The end!