In October of 2012 I received a call from my dad and stepmom. They told me that they were expecting. I was so happy for them because they had been trying for so long to get pregnant. When I told my friends that I was going to have a little sibling I got the same response probably a hundred times. People would say, ”Isn’t it weird to you that your dad is starting over” or “you are grown up and he’s having a baby, isn’t that odd”. Until they brought it up I honestly had not thought of it that way.
My dad married my stepmom in 2008, when I was about to start middle school. I never thought that it was weird that my parents were not together because that was the way it always was. I grew up living with my grandmother in Florida and that was my normal. I never had a problem with my dad dating and I love my stepmom (she’s amazing, definitely not a cinderella story.)
I was the result of a teenage pregnancy. My parents were both in high school, my mom was 18 and my dad was 17. I turned 17 the year that my little sister was born (what a coincidence). I guess to most people the fact that I was almost out of high school when my dad had a baby was odd. To me though, it was my stepmom’s chance to start her family and my chance to see my sibling grow up. I would feel so selfish if I said that my dad could not have another child just because I was grown up. One, it was not my decision. Two, I was excited for the chance to see my sister grow up.
Now, I have a two-and-a-half year old sister named Alison and a 7 month old brother named Aiden. I can not say how much I adore them both. My sister is sassy and very loving. Aiden is smiling and laughing now and it is awesome seeing him be able to do new things.
Before they were born I was excited that I would get to watch them grow up. I have an 18 year old brother who I grew up with in Florida and I loved growing up with him. But it is completely different watching my new siblings grow up. I can only remember parts of my childhood with my brother but I remember almost everything that happens in my brother and sister’s lives.
I would not change the fact that my dad had me so young nor would I change the fact that my dad got married and had two more children. I love them both. I never knew that I could love a little human this much. I am keeping the memories that they will not remember. I can’t wait to tell them stories about when they were little.
Last summer for my graduation trip, we went to Italy. I know that there is no way my sister will remember that but I hope to go back one day and show her all the things we saw and the things we did. I remember my sisters first birthday and the day she was born. I love the memories we have made so far and can not wait to make more with little Ali “Squidge” and Aiden “Bubba”.
