Soon
Dean
As I write this, and if all goes according to plan, our second child Drake will be born seven and a half hours from now by c-section.
It's hard to describe what this feels like. Our first was born a bit over 7 years ago. That's a long time between kids. We're older now, calmer now. We most likely know what to expect now, and are less likely to allow ourselves to be pushed around or bullied by the doctors and nurses who run things. When he comes home we'll be less afraid that any tiny mistake we make will mess the kid up for life.
We always told ourselves we wanted at least three. As age 40 looms closer for us both, we're not sure that will happen. Despite the greater calm that comes with age, the normal questions still flicker through my still sometimes insecure brain: will we do as good a job? Will he be disappointed in his old man? Will we bond together as quickly as Jake and I did?
Feeling excited and nervous is probably normal in these circumstances. Yet today it's a strange excitement and nervousness, almost as if I can calm my own fears as they arise. "It will all be all right," I tell myself, and I know it will be.
Still I find myself thinking: what gift would I like to give my new child? What one lesson would I like him to take away from his old man as he goes through life? Well that's easy, and it's the same thing I'd hope my oldest son would take with him through life:
Never be afraid to question anyone or to think for yourself. On the other hand, never be afraid to be wrong, or to admit to being wrong, and never let a bully make you feel stupid for being wrong. For that matter, never let yourself be bullied period.
Truth. Truth above all else. Truth about yourself, truth about others, truth about the world we live in. But truth about yourself first and foremost. Without the truth, we have nothing.
If we can't always know the truth (and we can't always), the quest to seek the truth, to come as close to it as we can, is always worthwhile.
Well, I know this. Give him that damned "Let's Make a Deal" brainteaser and he'll hate you as much as I did for about three days!!!
Seriously Dean, the best thing you can give Jake and Draco is to be the fabulous role models that I know you are. By just being who you are you're teaching your boys to be loving and strong and independent and to think for themselves, something a lot of people never get.
Congratulations to you and Rose!
Take a deep breath and hang on. The ride's just getting started.
Congrats.
How exciting! I'll be thinking of you and praying for you. God bless!
God Bless, and hope all goes well. Oh, and as the father of 2 children, I can say that Mike's 10:00 AM post is spot-on.
Congratulations to both of you, Tina and I have you in our prayers.
"Speak to us of Children."
And he said: Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
Which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
And He bends you with His might that
His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies,
So He loves also the bow that is stable. "
You have already given your new son the best gift possible...you and Rosie as parents! Congratulations!!
God*, and above all TRUTH and INTEGRITY, bless you and yours always. What wonderful little ones you have, and so lucky they are to have such a wonderful mother and father.
(*and all Gods and Goddesses.)
Nuthin' like kids to make you humble.
Fondly,
Hank Barnes
He is a cutie!!
Jerry
I am so emotional and can hardly contain myself after looking at Rosemary laying there so beautifully. She is your reason for your life and cling close to this day for seven years ago you were blessed with Jacob because of your wife.
There is no such thing as a perfect Father and learn that now and keep that inside you for the coming days ahead now being blessed twice due to your wife.
She comes first and make time for her above anyone or anybody else. In doing that, you will have more love and wisdom and be blessed with knowing what to do in any given situation your sons will bring to you.
Being a Father is the second most important job in your lifetime. Be a Husband first, for it is in loving her that strenght will pass between the two of you as the day you took your Rose for a Wife. You first loved one another and that must be above ALL else.
Being a Perfect Father is a Myth as it is being a perfect Mother. So cling first to one another.
Oh the Joyous Days to come and you already know from your first Son. Be there Dean, be there and LISTEN, put ALL else aside when your boys are happy or sad Life is short we are always told but many times it takes mistakes along our road that make us stronger and better human beings.
Strive to reach your goals and please do not look back and judge your own mistakes let alone your parents for they too had their roads that tossed and turned in their tender years.
The words you posted are the words that you have always had to guide You, but you may have not known that when the winds came blowing and you thought you could not make it through another day. You did and so will your sons, I promise.
I wish I had the right words but I can't find them just now other than,
You are the reason I am here along with your brother and sister and I thank you for giving me a reason to go on in life. I'm so proud of you and I am following the HIV, because as you know I have an immune disease and my eyes have been opened to prescribed drugs due to my body and mind struggles this last year and a half.
You are in a great era Son and your brillance at times is what makes you feel inadequate. Son, that is just Life and we all have our weaknesses. You know what though? It's those very weaknesses that we find strenght and courage.
My Rock is the Lord Jesus Christ.
When I walked away from Him, He Never Walked Away from Me.
I'm too happily emotional to reread this and correct mistakes, so know...
I Love You,
Mother
Hmm. I'll have to think on that.