Mommy, I Want A Brother!

Mommy, I want a brother.  At sixteen years old, my son is still telling me this.  Even though he has a perfectly good sister, he still wants a brother.  I guess its only natural.  I am my parents’ only daughter.  For many years I told my mother that I wanted a sister.  And for many years, my mother told me that she was not having any other more kids.  I could never understand why she just wouldn’t make me sister.  After all, she made me a younger brother when I asked for one.  Now that I think of it, my younger brother has never thanked me for his existence.  For all I know, had I not asked for him, he may not be alive today.  Anyway, no matter how much I asked for a little sister, I never got one.  I got little cousins, play sisters, and even shared my friends’ sisters, but I never got my own sister.

Now that my son has been expressing his wish for a younger brother, I find myself repeating the words that my mother said to me, “I’m not having any more kids.”  The tone of my voice varies depending on how much he’s nagged and/or complained that day.  It can be either playful, “Boy please, I am not having any more kids”.  It can be frustrated, “Why?  So you can have someone else to argue with?”  It can be annoyed, “I already told you, I’m not having any more kids!”  I even tried logic.  I’ve explained to my son that even if I were to have another kid, there’s no guarantee that it would be a boy.  He could get stuck with another sister.  And, even if by the grace of God I had a boy, it’s not like he would be born a teenager!  He would be a baby.  That baby won’t be able to play basketball with him and the baby would be two years old when my son leaves for college.  But really tho, what my son doesn’t understand is that its been sixteen years since I had him and I’m still trying to get my body back!  Does he really think that I would ruin the little progress I made just to have another kid?  I don’t think so! 

Interestingly enough, my daughter has hasn’t asked me for a younger sister in years.  On my parents’ side, my daughter is the youngest grandchild and the only girl.  When she mentioned that she wanted a younger sister a few years ago, I casually reminded her that if I had another kid, she would not be the youngest anymore.  I could literally see her thinking and can tell you the exact moment when she realized how her status in the family would change if I had another child.  It was like seeing the light bulb click on her mind.  Now, the only complaint I get from her every now and then is how much she wishes she didn’t have a brother.  I think my daughter would be just fine if she were an only child.

I know that I sound heartless, but I do feel for my son.  I understand his need for a younger brother, especially one close in age.  I can see him playing basketball with a younger brother.  I can see them watching and talking basketball together.   I can see my son and his younger brother talking about girls … who’s cute, who they are interested in, and how to get their attention.  All of that would be nice, but sorry my man, you don’t have a younger brother.  You have a younger sister instead!

So, just so you know, no matter how many children you have and in what combination, someone will not be satisfied.

Now you know.  So consider yourself warned!