I grew up with two brothers—one older and one younger than me—with whom I was about two years apart in age. When I was 17, Mom got pregnant with you, and my life changed right then and there.
When I first saw you at the hospital, with your bright red hair and tiny nose, I immediately fell madly in love with you. It was through you that I first experienced the powerful and sometimes frightening feeling of unconditional love. It was clear to me that I would do anything for you—I would have given my life if I had to.
Right from the very beginning, I loved going for walks with you and Mom. I took great delight in watching curious people stare at us, wondering if the baby belonged to the teenager who was too young, or the woman who was too old to have a child. Whenever someone asked about the baby’s age or name, they’d turn to me, and I found that very funny. In fact, I really enjoyed this role of “second mom” that I’d given myself! I saw it as a very realistic preview of what my life as a mom would be like, and it greatly strengthened my desire to have lots of children. The intense emotions and roller-coaster ride that come with having a child were just too wonderful not to experience them over and over again!
My favorite moments were when Mom would call me to ask me to come put you to sleep at night—either when she’d tried unsuccessfully or just when she needed a little break. I lived right next door to you, so it was easy to come over, and it gave me immense joy. I had my own unique technique for putting you to sleep, and it worked every single time. I savored every second of those precious moments we spent together.
It’s because of all that that we have such a special and unique bond. Even though I now have my own “real” kids and you’re a preteen, I still feel that special spark between us in my heart, and I hope it will be there forever. There’s just something extra about you compared to my other two brothers, and that’s why you’ll always be special to me. No matter what happens, you can always count on me to help you through the good times and the bad. I love you, my little brother!