Making a New List

Stop Listing What Your Kids are Missing

I handed Beckett a toy cell phone while I tried again to fasten a diaper onto his ever squirming little body (seriously, boys do not stop moving). It’s possible it would have kept his attention and given me the four seconds I needed if it actually had batteries that worked.

When we bought the little (over-priced) phone for Audrey it had fresh batteries and sang adorable (obnoxious) songs while she pretended to call her grandparents. When it was passed down to Charlotte, the batteries had a little juice left and when they ran out, we replaced them. Yesterday, when I handed the toy to Beckett, it was at least the 15th time I had thought to myself, I should really put batteries in that thing for him

The song-less toy cell-phone was just one more I could add to the list of what Beckett was missing.  He was eight weeks old the last time we had scheduled pictures taken of him–Audrey had pictures taken at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months; Charlotte was more like 3, 6, and 12 months, but still.  My little man has a lovely portfolio of momma’s Instagram pictures. Even those often have one or both of his sisters making an appearance.

My poor third born—little Beckett.

And then, I stopped feeling badly that he doesn’t have pictures or new batteries.  Audrey definitely had more formal pictures, new clothes, (new batteries), and all our attention.

But, just as Audrey had privileges simply by being our first born, Beckett has some advantages on Audrey.

Beckett has sisters. Sisters who snuggle him, make him giggle, show him how to pound his hammer, roll his ball, and kiss his momma, and who sneak into his pictures.

Beckett has a momma who knows a feeding 22 minutes early (or late) won’t damage him, and snuggling him when he’s sick won’t ruin his sleep habits.  Beckett didn’t come home from the hospital to two parents focused entirely on him, he came home to a bustling family—to four people crazy about him.

Mommas, we are so good at adding to that mental list of how we’ve messed up our first borns and are neglecting our second (third, fourth) born.  Can I encourage you today?  God not only chose you to be momma to your littles, He orchestrated where each one would fall in the birth order; He designed their personalities to find comradery and friction (the kind that makes us more like Jesus) in your family.

Today, start a new list and call it, My kids are so blessed to be in this family because:

 

and share with me on Facebook! 

 

 

 

 

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