Being a preemie mum

Sometimes I struggle when people look at Finn and say 'What a new little baby' then I have to explain that no, actually he's is nearly 4 months. I struggle when people glare at me, for not supporting such a tiny babys head, he can do it all on his own, and I struggle when babies younger than his corrected age are doing things that he can't.

However he is such an amazing little boy, every thing he learns amazes me, I love his little smile, it makes my day when he wakes up beaming at me and I love him with a love i've never known.

I found this poem when I was admitted to hospital and we we're facing the prospect of Finn being delivered by emergency c-secton weighing an estimated 2lbs 8oz. It makes me smile (and cry!) every time I read it and it really made me more postive.

"How Premmie Mums are chosen"
Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen?

Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth,
selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation.
As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger.
"Beth Armstrong, son. Patron Saint, Matthew.
Marjorie Forrest, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia.
Carrie Rutledge, twins. Patron Saint ... give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a premmie."
The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a premature baby a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel."
"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it.
I watched her today.
She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother.
You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of its own.
She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."
God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just the right amount of selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness?! Is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect.
She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied.
She will never take for granted a spoken word.
She will never consider a step ordinary.
When her child says 'mama' for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it.
I will permit her to see clearly the things I see – ignorance, cruelty, prejudice – and allow her to rise above them.
She will never be alone.
I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air.
God smiles.
"A mirror will suffice."

Love Mel & Finn ( who has learnt to hit his toys today! Very proud!) xxx