5 years, 5 months.
Dear Jack,
A lot of people had been telling me they would be curious to learn your reaction to seeing your sister for the first time. Fortunately, I have it forever etched my memory- plus, I have pictures!
The look on your face was perfect; so completely and genuinely amazed.
You instantly asked to hold her. As you heard her let out a little cry, you responded with a laugh: “She sounds like a kitty cat!”
As Holly was passed around the room, you continued laughing- you seemed to be grasping the concept that, all along, Mommy and I weren’t kidding- that you truly were getting a real little sister.
You also got to open Holly’s gift to you: an awesome dinosaur book, a Berenstain Bear book, about a dozen plastic dinosaur toys, a new Big Brother 2016 shirt, and an Ankylosaurus stuffed animal.
Tuesday night made the first time that we were all back at the house and back into normal bedtime routine. Our tradition is that I always grab one of your many stuffed animals on the bed and make it sing you a song.
But this time, I happened to be holding Holly in my arms. As I began singing in a stuffed animal’s voice, you stopped me immediately:
“No, Daddy… I’m singing to Holly instead.”
And right away, you began singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”. It made the first time I’ve ever heard you sincerely sing a song without trying to be funny.
It was one of the most sincere things I’ve ever seen you do.
I was never really that concerned that you would be jealous or intimidated by your new sister; instead, my main fear was that you would feel pressured to “play the part of big brother” based on everyone’s preconceived ideas you had overhead.
Fortunately, you have no interest in playing this thing up. Instead, you truly adore your baby sister; whether the cameras are on you or not.
Love,
Daddy