How many times have you heard a cute story about a young girl who is anxious and excited to meet her new baby sister? Many girls and boys are ecstatic when they find out they are going to have a baby sibling. They receive outfits with sayings on them like “Older Brother” or “Older Sister.” The older-sibling-to-be wears out these articles of clothing because they are so excited and don’t want to take them off. This was not me.I remember the day my parents told, no asked, me if I wanted a little sister. It was after dinner in our apartment complex in Honolulu, Hawaii. Mind you, I was already and only child and the rest of my family (aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents) lived across the nation in Massachusetts. So to put it simply, I was a spoiled little brat. I was running around the living room – probably on a sugar high – and my parents called me over to sit with them. Being a “Daddy’s Girl”, I climbed up on to his lap and looked at the two of them. My mom took a sip of her coffee and looked at me, “do you want a little sister, Niki?”
I thought about it for a second then answered, “No thank you, Mommy.” I smiled, got up, and went back to my business of running around the apartment. Why would I want a little sister? Sisters meant sharing. I knew this because I had been to plenty of friends’ houses who had little siblings. I did not want to share anything – attention, toys, food, or a room. After a while, my parents called me back into the room. Why? I already said I didn’t want a sister.
“You don’t have a choice, Niki,” Dad started, “your mother is already pregnant.” Dangit.
Nine months later I remember watching the sunset at the Newton Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts while Alyssa was being born. We had moved to be closer to family. My dad was holding me in his arms because I couldn’t see very well over the balcony at the hospital. Papa was trying to explain to me just where the sun goes when the doctor came over and told us we could go see my mom and the new baby.
We walked into the room and Mom was holding Alyssa in her hands. I was already mad that she was getting more attention than me. I didn’t want to hold her at first but after she wrapped her hand around my finger, I crawled up on the bed with my mom and asked if I could. I didn’t know it then, but the small alien-like creature that I was attempting to hold would become one of the best friends I will ever have in my life.
To this day, I often this about the fact that I didn’t even want a baby sister. But the truth is, I would be completely, totally, and utterly lost without my younger, yet more mature, role model named Alyssa.
