The best email to date.

Loving Two

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical
relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our
time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I
love you?

Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share
me as you’ve never shared me before.

I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me.” And I hear
myself telling you in mine, “I can’t,” knowing, in fact, that I never can
again.

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the
precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have
again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and
feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying him—as though I
am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to
protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with
just the two of us is fading fast.

But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two.
There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you
grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.

I watch how he adores you — as I have for so long. I see how excited you are
by each of his new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t
taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no
longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you. I find that my love for
each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is
finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I
love you—only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll
never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have
your own supply.

I love you—-both. And I thank you both for blessing my life. —Author
Unknown