My Big Hearted Baby

She was carrying a large brick all the way across the yard to me. When she reached me I casually commented on her strength.

"I have a strong heart." she replied. "For love."

I thought it was such a charming thing to say, and very true as well.






This is Cass and her 'baby'. She has been nurturing this piece of dead wood for the past two weeks. I've had my fair share too, nursing the baby for her, holding it for her when she needs to go to the shops etc.

We've bonded.

A few nights ago I walked out onto our deck. Stephen was there and I asked him with alarm where the baby had gone.

"What baby?" he asked, clearly feeling his pregnant wife was losing it a bit.

"The baby! Cass' baby! It was right on the table." Then the light-bulb went on- Stephen had not yet met the baby. "Oh yes. It's a log."

"Oh. I threw that over the deck."

"What?? You threw the baby over the deck?" I had to run downstairs and find it before morning as when Cass puts her baby to bed she expects it to be there when she wakes it up in the morning for cuddles. As do most mothers.

In all honesty, I am glad she's found an outlet for her nurturing instincts, as Eli was not enjoying Cass' attempts to constantly baby him.

Nonetheless, he is a very loved little brother, as, I am sure, this next bub will be. They are lucky children to have such a kind older sister.

She is a kind daughter too.

This morning I was half sitting in the pantry sobbing. I assume mornings are the same for mothers everywhere, but the 20 or so balls I was juggling as usual had just come crashing down around me. I also had a lot of pent up emotions about some trauma and tragedy that has been hitting a family very dear to us that I had not managed to make time to face in the last few weeks of craziness I've been living. Plus, I'm pregnant. All reasons enough for a random cry in the pantry.

Anyway, I normally don't cry in front of ANYONE, much less my children, so I was struggling to get myself under control. Cass was very concerned, bringing me toy after toy and offering to get me tissues. Her little hands stroked my hair back from my face and rubbed me on the back.

"Why are you sad Mum?"

I couldn't really explain it to myself at the time so I told her it was hard to explain.

She got down on my level and told me seriously with confidence, "You'll be okay Mum. I have so much joy in my heart, I will give you some."

And don't you know it, she did.