Not since the day he was born has Braxton spent so much time in the hospital as he has this week. Braxton's Uncle Jon (my younger brother), was in a very serious car accident last Saturday. After two days in ICU and 5 days now in the neurology wing, Jon is doing much better and the doctor's expect a full recovery.
Braxton has been a trooper. He's been with sitters, he's been extended hours with dad and he's been many hours in room 672 at Sacred Heart hospital. Two nights in a row I kept Braxton at the hospital until nearly 9 p.m., which is about an hour past his bedtime. Despite all that, he's kept smiling, giggling and being generally the amazing creature that I'm raising. I gotta say, I'm pretty proud of myself.
I think this week might be a little more difficult in some ways. My mom has gone home, so I'm now mom-runner-up. With 5 sibs in Eugene I often find myself taking on the role of mom. I guess it's a natural fit. Comedian Chris Rock once said in a stand-up routine that in big families, the parents raise the first couple and then the oldest child raises the rest. And I tell ya, sometimes it feels that way. Not that my parents didn't do an amazing job - they did. I wouldn't be able to handle the role that I have without amazing parents. It's obvious that my sibs depend on me a great deal - particularly in times of crisis. Luckily, the crises are few and far between. And luckily, we're a close family who looks after and supports each other.
I know Braxton's not going to have a "mothering" instinct - too much testosterone for his own good. But I hope I raise him to be a caring, generous man who is quick to offer help and slow to give excuses.
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