“What do you think your brother will look like?” I was asking my cousin while sitting with him in the door waiting for my mom to give birth to my sister. Meanwhile, his mom was giving birth to his brother.
That was a nervous and exciting wait. We were both a bit confused about how it feels to have a sibling. Back in the day, my family had a midwife who came to my house to help my mom give birth. As kids, we were excluded from the house although I just wanted to be there. I was curious about the process and I was so worried for my mom.
Watching my mom carrying my sister in her belly, I could feel her heaviness. Everyday she had to rethink her clothes, they all became too tight. She had to cover her nose every time she tried to have pregnant milk, otherwise, she might experience nausea. Yet, she never ever complaint a word, she was still working and doing things. She is quite independent. I love her.
Buying clothes for babies is also very exciting. Every day my mom collected somewhere a new piece of shirt or pant or skirt, baby girl size and style. They look extremely tiny and cute.
Once my sister was born, the smell of the baby, the red skin of her, all were new and surprising to me. She looked so vulnerable and innocent. Who does not love a baby right? Then she grew a little bigger everyday. She cried sometimes. Her cry batch was never pleasant.
After that, it was a journey of my mom trying to recover from birth and to get back in a nice shape for her body. My dad was trying to build more furniture and to work harder to raise us. He is always a great man and an amazing dad. He has been gentle with both of us, perhaps more because we are daughters, there is always a connection between father and daughter. He does not say much but he watches us every moment, and never forgets to encourage us to be better.
It has been a joy to have my mom, my dad, my younger sister, and last but not least, my younger brother in my life. That is what my family is for. That is part of why I live.
