DID THE DOCTOR BRING A BABY??
In the summer of 1957 I was five-and-one-half years old and already had two younger sisters, two older sisters, and an older brother. I did not know that another baby was soon to join our family, because such things were not discussed with five-year-olds back in those days. I never noticed that my mother's belly was getting bigger, and maybe it wasn't. (She used to say that a month before I was born people still did not realize she was pregnant!!) I did, however, notice that she had two new outfits that were completely unlike anything she had ever worn before. Instead of the traditional Mennonite cape dress that she had always worn, she had a SKIRT and two smock tops, one a flowered print, and one a formal-looking navy blue. I thought she looked so beautiful in that navy blue outfit.
One Sunday afternoon my parents wanted to attend a local tent meeting. For some reason they decided to take just me along. Perhaps they thought I needed it the most then already!! I felt wonderfully special, like I was an only child. As we sat in our seats under the tent, a little girl I knew looked back at us from her seat in the row in front of us. I thought, "I bet she wishes her mom had a pretty outfit like my mom does!!" (I did need that tent meeting, didn't I?? Such vain thoughts at age five!!)
September 8th was a Sunday that year. I was awakened before dawn by voices in my parents' bedroom. I lay there listening, wondering what was going on. I heard someone go down the stairs, then after a while I heard people coming up the stairs. I recognized our family doctor's voice. I wondered what was wrong. For some reason I never did get out of bed to go ask. Eventually I heard a baby's cry. The doctor must have brought us a baby!!! I was so excited! I honestly did NOT know where babies came from, and I pictured a huge room at the hospital where babies were kept. I just couldn't figure out how they kept them from growing before people got them!
When I heard voices in the hall, I got up and went out. It was my older siblings. They told me that Mamma had had a baby girl. We stood out there and talked as we awaited our chance to go into the room to see her. My brother said in all his 11-year-old wisdom, "Well, Mamma won't need to wear those dresses anymore." I couldn't believe it. "Why not?" I exclaimed. "She looked so pretty in them." I think he tried to come up with some kind of lame answer, but I can't remember what it was!
We finally were ushered into my parents' bedroom and got to meet little Betty. It was love at first sight for me. I had been too young to enjoy Doris and Barb when they were babies, but now I could really have fun with Betty. And I did.
For some reason I felt a special need to take care of her. When she was big enough to outgrow her crib she became my sleeping partner. Every night I would hug her and tell her stories before we went to sleep. When she faced a difficult transition to public junior high school I took it upon myself to make three new outfits for her.
Betty has gone on to become a teacher and administrator, a wife and mother (after age 40!) and her name has changed to Elizabeth. But to us she's still Betty! Her warm, caring, funny, vivacious personality makes her a delight to be with. When they come to the area for family events they usually stay at our house and we enjoy having them here so very much. I'm so glad God brought Betty to our family 50 years ago. We love you, Betty!
One Sunday afternoon my parents wanted to attend a local tent meeting. For some reason they decided to take just me along. Perhaps they thought I needed it the most then already!! I felt wonderfully special, like I was an only child. As we sat in our seats under the tent, a little girl I knew looked back at us from her seat in the row in front of us. I thought, "I bet she wishes her mom had a pretty outfit like my mom does!!" (I did need that tent meeting, didn't I?? Such vain thoughts at age five!!)
September 8th was a Sunday that year. I was awakened before dawn by voices in my parents' bedroom. I lay there listening, wondering what was going on. I heard someone go down the stairs, then after a while I heard people coming up the stairs. I recognized our family doctor's voice. I wondered what was wrong. For some reason I never did get out of bed to go ask. Eventually I heard a baby's cry. The doctor must have brought us a baby!!! I was so excited! I honestly did NOT know where babies came from, and I pictured a huge room at the hospital where babies were kept. I just couldn't figure out how they kept them from growing before people got them!
When I heard voices in the hall, I got up and went out. It was my older siblings. They told me that Mamma had had a baby girl. We stood out there and talked as we awaited our chance to go into the room to see her. My brother said in all his 11-year-old wisdom, "Well, Mamma won't need to wear those dresses anymore." I couldn't believe it. "Why not?" I exclaimed. "She looked so pretty in them." I think he tried to come up with some kind of lame answer, but I can't remember what it was!
We finally were ushered into my parents' bedroom and got to meet little Betty. It was love at first sight for me. I had been too young to enjoy Doris and Barb when they were babies, but now I could really have fun with Betty. And I did.
For some reason I felt a special need to take care of her. When she was big enough to outgrow her crib she became my sleeping partner. Every night I would hug her and tell her stories before we went to sleep. When she faced a difficult transition to public junior high school I took it upon myself to make three new outfits for her.
Betty has gone on to become a teacher and administrator, a wife and mother (after age 40!) and her name has changed to Elizabeth. But to us she's still Betty! Her warm, caring, funny, vivacious personality makes her a delight to be with. When they come to the area for family events they usually stay at our house and we enjoy having them here so very much. I'm so glad God brought Betty to our family 50 years ago. We love you, Betty!
6 comments:
I have been gone all weekend and am just now catching up on blogs. This is a fabulous story...funny, sweet, sentimental...all the mixin's for a great tale. I remember when my parents brought my sister home from the hospital. I was just a little over 4 years old, but I remember running behind them to their bedroom where they'd laid her on the bed for me to look at. Funny I didn't know how much of a stinker she'd be or how much she'd eventually overtake my life! She's a good sister though, so I can't complain.
What a sweet story!
Hugs!
Kat
What a great story. How great you remember so many details. Sisters are such a gift.
How funny that you can remember things from when you were five years old! You were such a caring person even at a young age. Of course, Betty probably thought you were controlling her! Ha! Ha!
Remember things from when I was five? I remember a trip to the Pocono Mountains a month before my second birthday!! Sometime I'll tell that story.
Before TWO YEARS! ! ! That isn't possible! ! ! I've got to hear this one! ! !Hahahahahaha!
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