The other night we were watching our old home movies of when the children were little. And the thought crossed my mind. What if we had one more? Accepting no more babies were going to happen was a done deal in my head up until fairly recently. I knew that it sounded crazy. So I kept it to myself. I mean I have beautiful children already and they are perfect.
Accepting No More Babies
We are in the middle years of tweens and teens. As parents, we are loving this new stage. My kids are funny and their individual personalities are shining through.
Everything is easier, everything is new, and it's fun to watch. It's tough at times, there's never enough time in the days and often life feels like it's permanently on fast forward, but I love it.
Besides, there's two good reasons why we're done having babies. I'm over 40 and he's had the snip. But there it is: What if we had one more?
Feeling Sad About Not Having More Babies
It's been nearly a month now and I've not shaken the thought. That lingering doubt that maybe I'm not ready to put the days of babies behind me. I felt the possibility growing and then started to entertain the thought.
I phoned the clinic about vasectomy reversals. Apparently we have a 60% chance of a successful reversal. The odds aren't amazing and there's a high chance of disappointment. And that disappointment's going to take me mentally away from the kids, for a while at least.
Then last night I said it out loud to my husband: 'What if we had one more?'.
His response. After a short (but I noticed) pause was simply this, 'If you want another baby then we can do it'.
If you want.
If I want.
Not 'that's a great idea, honey' or 'I would love another baby'. No. If you want.
What do I want?
I want to hold my babies again.
I want to meet them all for the first time as the nurse hands them too me. Still wet. Still part of me.
I want to see my husbands face when he sees them. Those tears that only come once.
I want to feel them kick in my belly.
I want to smell their baby smell and stroke that wispy new baby hair.
I want to feel them wrap their little arms around me super tight.
I want to hold their hands. Their tiny little hands.
I want to watch them jump over those ridiculously small waves and look at me when they 'did it'.
I want 3am cuddles.
I'm just not ready for it to be over I don't think.
No More Babies
So many people warned me that I should enjoy every moment because it goes by so fast. At the time, it didn't feel fast. It felt hard. It felt busy. But now, I wish I had focused more. Photographed more. Held them more. Soaked up every tiny moment. Because time passes and children grow so fast. And memories fade.
I am so grateful that my husband didn't listen to me and bought that video camera anyway. Even though we couldn't afford it. Even though it caused a fight. Watching my babies on screen brings every emotion flooding back.
I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Some Mom's I know don't feel this conflict. If they do, they hide it well. They seem so certain that their family is complete.
Not me. I'm not certain. When I think that I won't have any more babies. I feel sad. There's this void inside me. It feels like grief and I think that is what this is. The sadness that comes from losing something sacred that you just can't get back. I can't help but wonder if having another child would heal this feeling.
Except that there is one thing that I am infinitely aware of: My 'babies' aren't babies anymore but they are still growing. We are in a new season of life. The kids are bigger and time is still passing. I need to focus so that I don't miss anything else. Focus.
