Last night, Olivia wanted to “hold mommy” in the recliner. So, we snuggled up together with our blankets and rocked. She wanted to hear a story and since I didn’t want to get up to retrieve a book, I told her a story. . . .a story about the day she was born. Olivia had never heard this story before. It’s a tough story to tell since it was the best and one of the worst days of my life. But, I began to tell it. . .
“Daddy had jury duty that day and mommy was at home on bed rest with two babies in her tummy.”
That part really piqued her interest.
“Two babies in mommy’s tummy?”
I explained that it was her and Logan. She’s heard all about Logan and she asks about him quite a bit. It’s hard to answer some of her questions, like why he can’t come over and play. His shadow box contains a bear and a giraffe just like the ones he was buried with. Olivia wanted to get them out and play with them one day and I had to explain that they were Logan’s. Now, she always tells me Logan is playing in heaven with his bear and giraffe.
I told her about how daddy and I went to the hospital to make sure the babies were okay. . .
“Like James went to the hospital when he lost his wheel?” she asked. Yes, her train lost a wheel and she was so heartbroken that we had to send him to the train hospital.
Olivia got very concerned when I told her mommy and daddy were really scared when we learned something was wrong. It was interesting to tell the story in a way that a 3 year old might understand. I wasn’t sure if I was telling it exactly the way I should or that she even understand a portion of it. But, I have told that same story over 20 times today. The first thing Olivia asked for this morning was the story about the two babies in mommy’s tummy. And, I’ve told it again and again. Each time I tell it, it’s as if she becomes more and more miraculous and more and more dear to me. I’m sure I’ll be telling it for years to come. It’s not the happiest of stories, but it’s our story and that makes it special.
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5 comments:
Beautiful story.
As the parent of a surviving twin, I have stressed about how to handle "our story" with our daughter. We talk about her sister, Natalie, but yet I never want to dwell on the fact that we lost her or make Marleigh have survivor's guilt. But we will NEVER forget Natalie. It is a very fine line.... and sounds like you are doing great with it. Kudos to you.
Good Job, Mommy! It's hard to instill that sibling stuff when they are growing up alone with a guardian angel in heaven. Our son is learning about his sister, through some stories too, but since they were not twins and she is older; it's also a hard story to tell. especially when they ask in their 3 year old ways about where heaven is and playing. thanks for the inspiration.
This is so sweet. It's neat that Olivia's so interested in the story and about Logan. It sounds like you must have told it just perfectly for her :-)
I'd never thought about the first time we tell Chloe about Leila. She's not even speaking yet so it just hadn't ocurred to me. I'm glad you brought it up...something to think about.
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