There’s a video on YouTube of a young girl reacting very strongly to meeting her new sibling. I’m sure lots of people think it’s hysterical, but I found it horrible. It would be a nightmare for me. It looks like the girl and her father are at the hospital, he’s filming, and each time he asks if she would like to see her baby sister she screams in anguish. As he continues filming and “mentioning” her sister she continues having a royal meltdown and yelling, “No!” as if her world is over. And I suppose it is, in a sense.

I saw the video just before Willa was born and reiterated the prayer that’s been on my lips ever since the pregnancy test came back positive. I prayed that Ray and Willa would love and hate one another as only siblings can. Ray has spent the first two years of her life at the center of our attention; not spoiled, but having no need to share time. I was worried that the introduction of a newborn would be highly unwelcome, that she would react like the little girl in the video. I didn’t want her to see the development as an end to her happy world rather than an enhancement to her current single child state. So what happened when they met and Willa became a new reality for our family? Overwhelming relief for both parents.

Having fun with Yaya

Ray spent those days we were in the hospital with her grandmother and she couldn’t have been happier. They played in the yard, swam in the pool out back, and traveled into town to play at a free water park. Ray was certainly confused at my appearance in the hospital and thrown off by the general atmosphere, but her eyes on Willa told me all I needed to know. She was in love.

Ray meeting Willa in the hospital.

Ever since that first meeting in the hospital Ray has been getting lots of attention from her grandmother. At first I was worried about how she would react when that attention heads back over the Pacific Ocean and she’s left with just us and this new person. Each day there have been periods of time when Yaya is resting in her room, giving us a glimpse of what it will be like when she’s gone; those moments have encouraged us. Each morning Ray wakes up and asks for Willa. Throughout the day Ray holds Willa, rubs her down with a dry washcloth, helps us change her diaper, helps us burp her, or simply watches Willa sleep in her bassinet. She’s currently working on the art of reinserting the pacifier, though little progress has been made. Each evening ends with a Bible story and bedtime prayer, which has always been sacred Ray-only time. It’s during these evening moments that I most tangibly see God answering my prayer. Ray refuses to continue her bedtime routine until Willa is firmly planted on my lap. During the story reading, she strokes Willa’s head. During the prayer, she holds Willa’s hand. At the end, she kisses her sister instead of her Mom.

God gave Ray a naturally loving spirit. God gave Willa a naturally peaceful spirit. Right now most of Ray’s love is expended on Willa, and most of Willa’s peace is expended tolerating Ray’s love. It’s working for them. And we’re delighted.