March 6, 2016

A year ago, I wrote about the excitement I felt as my youngest awaited the birth of her first child. What a joyful year it has been to watch her grow with her adorable Maggie. Maggie filled a place in me that I didn’t even know was empty. It’s hard to articulate the impact one little life can have on a family. She has brought so much laughter.

Now, we await the birth of my middle child’s first baby. A completely different set of emotions accompanies this one. My daughter’s journey has known tragedy. Her first husband took his own life. We grieved deeply. It took time, but Stephanie, always a strong young woman, emerged from that experience with resilience, hope, and an open heart. She married again last year and expects their baby April 12. I stand in wonder at her courage and willingness to be vulnerable, to give her life in love.

Stephanie is a natural athlete. She taught herself to dive and joined the diving team at age 12; she played basketball in AAU and on the varsity team as a freshman; she beat many members of the college football team in their PE class bowling tournament; she golfs. She hits homeruns on 2 softball teams. She ran the San Francisco marathon and several half marathons. She never stops. Last week, she played golf at 8 months pregnant. When I asked if that was a good idea, she said it actually helped her swing! (The baby helped her rotation.)

So when I think of Stephanie as a mother, I have no fears. She will open her heart some more. She will work at it and give 110%. That’s just who she is. Lucky little baby boy.