The Day Evan Met His Brother

Evan was our firstborn—the center of our world from the moment he arrived. He slept between his dad and me, safe and snuggled, while we made up silly songs just to see him clap along and laugh. We were a happy little family.

A few months before Evan’s second birthday, Frank and I decided it was time to give him a sibling. It had taken nearly a year to conceive Evan, so we expected it might take a while again. To our surprise, we got pregnant almost immediately.

At the time, we were living in San Francisco’s Richmond District. I was part of a neighborhood mother’s group that met at local parks and playgrounds. One sunny afternoon, as our toddlers pushed toy trucks through the sand, I shared my pregnancy news. One of the moms pulled me aside with a concerned look. She told me her son, Lorenzo, had been about Evan’s age when she had her second child.

“Lorenzo did not like having a sibling,” she warned. “I couldn’t turn my back for a second—he once tried to smother the baby with a pillow.”

I must’ve looked horrified. Just then, I watched Lorenzo snatch a truck from Evan’s hands.

That night, I told Frank the story. “Do you think Evan will be jealous?” I asked.

Frank just shrugged and smiled. “It’ll be fine.”

A few months later, I gave birth to another boy—Colin. He was a big, healthy baby, over nine pounds, with thick dark hair and perfect pink skin. A few hours after the birth, we had my mom bring Evan to the hospital to meet his new little brother.

Following the advice I’d read, we didn’t introduce them with Colin in our arms. Instead, we laid him gently in the cradle, and waited. My mom came in holding Evan, and Frank lifted him up so he could see. “Evan, this is Co—”

Before he could finish, Evan’s face lit up with the biggest smile.

That’s my baby brother!” he said proudly.

From that moment on, they were best friends. Evan adored Colin—he wanted to hold him all the time, showering him with kisses and songs. His love was instant, deep, and wholehearted.

Now all these years later, they are both young adults now, and they are still as close as ever.