Are You Serious??

OK, I have to write about this because it has been bothering me for a few days. A few days ago we were at my husband's parents to have our pictures taken using their lawn as a back drop. They have a really lush, beautiful setting and we were hoping the pictures would be great. While there I was loving on our son while changing his clothes and kissing his scar. I was telling our son that his scar is my favorite part of him because it is why I have him today.

Can you believe that his grandfather asked why he had a scar? Hello?? Chest tube?? Remember the chest tube that was keeping him alive along with the respirator when he was born? Our son almost died twice, once when he was born and then again when he went further downhill and had to have a respirator to keep him breathing.

This statement just brought back how little our children were celebrated. I remember my husband calling his family to let them know that our son would be coming home after surviving the NICU - which has excellent doctors and nurses & why we have our son today - on a Saturday. My husband was calling to let them know that we were hoping the family could be there to celebrate this great occasion with us when we brought our son home, which was something that we were so scared would not happen. Afterall, the last grandchild that came home from the hospital and fortunately did not have any health issues came home to a family celebration - we all were there and we had even been told to cancel our dinner plans that nite with friends to be there. But our son survived and thrived and of course his family would want to celebrate him coming home. But, we were told it was not a good a day, pretty much everyone had plans. I guess after having our daughter come home 3 days before and no one had even called to welcome her home that it should not have surprised us that "it was not a good day" for anyone to celebrate our son surviving and coming home. This after we had changed and canceled so many plans to celebrate other family times. My husband told me that he was willing to do all of this because when we had children his family would do the same for us.

Well, they did not. What does that say about our children and their place?? How do I keep our children from feeling second class or not important? I don't want them hurt by this & I will try to limit and shelter them from these situations. I just hurt for them and wish I could change things for them. They are the sweetest babies and so trusting and look to their father and me for support and protection. I plan on doing just that.