Two that Run, One that Flies (Angel Wings Wednesday)

Right around Sarah Catherine’s birthday last month, a good friend sent me this poem.

Source

It so perfectly captures the thoughts that go through my head when someone inevitably asks me how many children I have.  And it’s the prefect answer to the question.

I remember writing about this very topic last year around this time.  I was still in the height of my grief and I had no idea how to answer.  I would feel terrible not honoring Sarah Catherine by including her in our children, but I’d stumble over the question and awkward silence would follow.

It’s taken a lot of time and a lot of courage, but I am finally able to speak up and “count” Sarah.  In fact, just before I saw the poem above, I was with a group and someone said to me, “you have only have 2 children.”  It halted me in my tracks and I finally spoke up. 

“No, I have three.”

…

“We lost Sarah Catherine, but she still counts.  I have three.”

There was a slight awkward pause, the person admitted to forgetting about our loss (ouch, but understandable) and then the conversation moved on.  Thankfully with none of the pitying looks that I wrote about last time.

I stood up for myself.  I stood up for Sarah Catherine.  It wasn’t a huge thing.  It was 2 sentences, but it made a huge impact, at least for me.

It showed me that I can include Sarah Catherine when I tell people about my children.  And as long as I handle the situation with confidence, others can feel sad with me, instead of pity for me.

It’s a huge step in the right direction.

So, how many children do I have?

I have three.

I have two that run and one that flies.

Dude is 6, Spud is 4, and Sarah Catherine would be 1.