A love letter to my first born

Lachlan was 2.5 years old when we had the twins. He has been the center of our lives since the day we arrived(probably before that really). He was the first grandchild on my side of the family in 14 years, and on my husbands side the first grandchild born and living in the same state. And my goodness he was and still is LOVED.

When we went to the hospital to have the twins, my parents had quarantined for probably a month so they could stay with Lachlan while we were at the hospital. They had lots of fun(and a whole lot of anxiety for grandma and grandpa) while they waited for us to come home(more on that journey later). And for any mom out there that came home to your first born after a second baby I am sure you know exactly what I am about to describe. We walked into that house and somehow, in 5 days my baby had completely grown up. Suddenly the hot tears hit my face, and my mom knew why. His hair, felt different. His clothes looked impossibly grown up. His motor skills, so advanced. He was so heavy and strong. And of course he had not changed overnight, it just took a new baby(or two) for us to realize he wasn't one anymore, and it stung.

I can only imagine what it is like to go from being the one and only, to one of three. And boy did those two new babies need a whole lot of work and attention. Mom and dad are suddenly exhausted, and lacking patience. On top of the changes at home, he started to lose friends at school

as the pandemic forced more and more families to take their children out of daycare. His visit with family and trips to the playground started to get less and less, and eventually we stopped seeing people at all outside of daycare. Our plans of playdates with grandparents and aunts and uncles all fell apart.

And I tell you he has handled it all with grace, certainly better than any of us adults. He adores his brothers, and has informed me he needs 2 more babies(NOT happening kid). He loves school and I see him being so kind to other kiddos it breaks my heart. He tells me at night before bed about the friends his misses, but don't worry mom he says "I will run into them at the carwash". We do facetime with grandparents and have virtual book time with them as well. Don't get me wrong though, its far from perfect. The twins are old enough to grab his toys now, so that is a sore subject. He craves attention at dinner when we feed the babies, which results in a long process of negotiating dinner. He is a 3 year old with lots of energy, and if we don't get him outside once a day....boy do we know it! He watches too much TV, because that is how we survive somedays like everyone else.

So what is my point? Well sometimes when my mom probably felt like she was overly worried about my older brother, she would tell me "You will understand when you have a first born". well my first response was I will never have more than zero to one children so I won't know. That is right, I have a long history of being sassy. But, here I am with three babies and I get it. Lachlan, you are a wonder to behold.