heritage

Yes, parenthood changes everything. But parenthood also changes with each baby. Here, some of the ways having a second and third child differs from having your first (author unknown):

YOUR CLOTHES

1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN

confirms your pregnancy.

2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible. 

3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

THE BABY'S NAME

1st baby: You pore over baby-name books and practice pronouncing and

writing combinations of all your favorites. 

2nd baby: Someone has to name his or her kid after your great-aunt

Mavis, right? It might as well be you.

3rd baby: You open a name book, close your eyes, and see where your

finger points.

PREPARING FOR THE BIRTH

1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.

2nd baby: You don't bother practicing because you remember that last

time, breathing didn't do a thing.

3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

THE LAYETTE

1st baby: You pre-wash your newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them,

and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau. 

2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard

only the ones with the darkest stains.

3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

WORRIES

1st baby: At the first sign of distress - a whimper, a frown - you

pick

up the baby.

2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to take your

firstborn.

3rd baby: You teach your 3-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

ACTIVITIES

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby

Story Hour.

2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.

3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

GOING OUT

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call

home five times.

2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a

number where you can be reached.

3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees

blood.

AT HOME

1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby. 

2nd baby: You spend a bit of every day watching to be sure your older

child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby. 

3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

Parenthood is quite a challenge. But it is a blessing from God (though we sometimes have to keep reminding ourselves!).

"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them." (Psa. 127:3-5)

Some quivers are larger than others, but there is no more awesome responsibility in all the world than the responsibility to instill within our children a love for God and His Word. May all of you who are parents be blessed and encouraged as you raise your children in the Lord. 

-alan smith