I don’t remember the day my sister was born. I don’t remember what it was like to be the only child either, but in my defense, I was only three. My mother said I was indifferent to the whole event and that I simply ignored her. That would be the first and last time I was ever able to do that.
I do, however, remember very vividly the day my brother was born. My father walked directly out of the delivery room with his long-awaited son – not even giving the nurses enough time to dress him. There he was, my naked little brother all of a few minutes old and I remember thinking I would take care of him forever.
My brother is a father now and any day he will be welcoming baby number two. My sister and I, foremost experts on being a sibling, have been trying to prepare our nephew for brotherhood. He won’t even talk about it. Maybe he knows how complicated his life is about to become. Maybe he knows that he will now have to share EVERY SINGLE THING he owns and will eventually have to give what he owns to that little intruder. His brother.
His life will become a series of questions and statements: “Where’s your brother?” (Even though I’m 42 and she’s darn near 40 my mother still asks me where my sister is.) “Can you take your brother?” “What did you do to your brother?” “Be nice to your brother!” “Don’t forget your brother!” “Give that back to your brother!” As he bumps to the ranks of oldest child he will suddenly be held more accountable for everything: “You’re the oldest, you should have known better!” “Just give it to him, he’s a baby.” “Don’t act like that, you’re the oldest.” “Split this with your brother.”
My nephew will experience every law and rule in full force – no exceptions. Little brother however will receive a diluted version with room to wiggle. He will essentially get everything he wants because he is the baby. End of story.
My sweet nephew has no idea what kind of love is headed his way either. Having a sibling is the best thing. Your own best friend that sleeps in the room right next to you. Someone to play with when all the other kids have gone home. They are keepers of secrets and someone who can always remind you of home. If he’s lucky he’ll look just like him and people will know they are brothers. They will have each other (and possibly more) when their mom and dad are long gone and they will be able to comfort one another in the worst of times.
Hold tight my nephew as you become a big brother. Things are about to get weird. Change comes in the form of a little baby and his name is Roenan Quiroga.