Family Life

This open letter to a toddler following the birth of his brother will make you bawl

Sarah Stage took to Instagram to write an open letter to her three-year-old son following the birth of her second child, and it's definitely something all mums can relate to.

Realising that things between her and her son Jamesy will never be the same, Sarah said it was like her newborn was an "intruder" on the "precious relationship" she once shared with her toddler. 

And just like fellow mums who find themselves in similar situations, Sarah worried if she could even love another child quite like her first.

"I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared," she wrote. 

"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."

However, time goes by and Sarah realises that rather than taking something from her son, she has given him something. 

"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 realise 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."

 

 As 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 you having to share me as you've never done 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. 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. 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 us 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.~ author unknown

A post shared by MY FITNESS E BOOK AVAIL NOW (@sarahstage) on

Fans of the model thanked her for being so honest, with many revealing they were left in tears after reading it. 

"Legit cried with this caption," wrote one. "Beautiful "

Another said: "This is so true. Having a second child scared me because all my love was for my first born. But once my daughter was born, my heart grew and instantly became large enough to love them both unconditionally. Moms are superheroes."

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