ed her up against the morning chill, complete with her little pink hat and matching mittens. She was babbling happily, and I could have sworn I saw him smile at her.

I must have made some sound because he looked up, his expression caught between embarrassment and pride.

“Mom, I just wanted to feel what you feel.” He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “And I liked it!

I also wanted to take her for a walk so you wouldn’t have to do it later… then maybe we could play together during the day.”

I couldn’t speak.

Ethan had thought of everything, from her favorite blanket to her stuffed giraffe tucked safely beside her.

My legs carried me forward without conscious thought, and I wrapped my arms around Ethan, holding him tight. He tensed for a moment before melting into the hug. Lily reached up with her pudgy hands, wanting to be part of the moment too.

“I was so scared when I couldn’t find you, either of you.”

“I’m sorry, Mom,” Ethan whispered against my shoulder.

“I’ve been so scared you and Dad wouldn’t love me anymore with Lily around. And you didn’t even care when I asked you not to go ahead with it… I felt like you were replacing me.”

“Never!” I pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes. “We wanted this for you, too, Ethan, so you could have a sibling.

We’ve wanted it for years, but I… adoption was the only way. Having a bigger family means we all have more love in our hearts, honey, not less.”

He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“She’s kind of cute when she’s not crying. And she laughs at all my silly faces.”

After that morning, Ethan became Lily’s self-appointed protector and entertainment committee.

One night, I passed by Lily’s room and heard Ethan’s voice floating through the partially open door.

He was sitting in the rocking chair, Lily curled up in his lap as he read her favorite bedtime story.

“See that dragon?” he whispered. “He was scared too, just like I was. But then he learned that having friends made him stronger, not weaker.”

The fear that had gripped Ethan’s heart had transformed into something beautiful.

He’d discovered what Mark and I had known all along: love isn’t a finite resource to be divided up and parceled out. It multiplies, growing bigger and stronger with each person it embraces.

Sometimes the best endings come from the rockiest beginnings. Our family wasn’t built in the traditional way, but that only made it more special.

We chose each other every single day, and our love grew stronger for it.

🤔🤔🤔

Source: amomama