I have three children, each two years apart. My eldest, now 11, has recently discovered a voracious appetite, often stomping around the house and sleeping in until noon. My middle son, who is 9, has a fondness for amphibians, Star Wars, and a particular obsession with sugar cookies topped with sprinkles—it’s quite peculiar, really. Then there’s my youngest, who is 7. He enjoys watching Star Wars, Amphibia, and Gravity Falls, and he loves digging in the backyard, creating elaborate imaginary worlds with his LEGOs. He can swing for an hour straight, and I admit, I spoil him quite a bit.
He thrives on it.
When he wakes up, I greet him with, “Good morning, my little Sunshine,” and wrap him in a big hug. More often than not, he snuggles up on the couch and drifts back to sleep, and I ensure he’s cozy with plenty of blankets and pillows. I do say good morning to my other two sons, but they usually gravitate towards our dog instead of me. Sunny, however, is all about the hugs.
After all, he is the baby.
No More Babies
When Sunny was just four days old, I held him close and sobbed, “Please tell me he’s not the last one.” My husband reassured me, “He won’t be our last baby, I promise.”
However, my pregnancy with Sunny was incredibly challenging. I experienced severe hyperemesis, requiring hospitalization for dehydration. Once they found a medication regimen that allowed me to keep food down, I could only tolerate junk food. At just 12 weeks, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, complicating my already difficult situation. I found myself sleeping up to sixteen hours a day due to the medication, while also managing frequent blood sugar checks and insulin injections. Despite the hyperemesis, I gained a significant amount of weight, further adding to my misery.
We could barely cope during that time, particularly since my husband was adjunct teaching at a nearby university, which allowed him to be home more often. When he was away, parenting fell entirely on me from our couch, and my kids received minimal attention.
Now that my husband teaches high school, if another pregnancy were to occur, he wouldn’t be home to assist. Since we homeschool our children, I handle the teaching, which would be impossible if I were as exhausted as I was with Sunny. We worried that my gestational diabetes could pose greater risks and, given that my hyperemesis worsened with each pregnancy, we were unsure how severe it would become with a fourth child. Would I face multiple hospital visits? With Sunny, I also required iron infusions. The idea of leaving my three kids for appointments was daunting.
Ultimately, we reached the decision to not have any more children. I cried over this loss, even as my sons grow older and we move beyond the baby stage. But Sunny is our last.
He’s Just So Sweet
“Oh, isn’t he well-mannered!” my mother-in-law remarked about Sunny this summer. He consistently remembers to say “please” and “thank you.” My other sons do the same, but not with the same level of enthusiasm or those adorable, wide eyes. When he makes a mistake, he cries genuine tears—heartfelt apologies rather than manipulative whining. And when someone says sorry to him, he looks them in the eye and replies, “I forgive you.” Every time.
My eldest son has entered a moody phase, often stomping around and rolling his eyes at us, while my middle son, who has severe ADHD, tends to ignore instructions. When they’re upset, they refuse hugs, despite my constant offers. However, if Sunny is sad, he curls up in my lap, making it hard not to spoil him.
It’s tough to resist a kid who seeks comfort in your embrace, especially when he prefers hugs over the family dog. While his brothers wrestle with their dad before bedtime, Sunny sneaks under the covers to cuddle, and I can’t help but melt.
I Love All My Kids Equally… But Sunny is Easy to Spoil
After eleven years of parenting, I’ve always had a cuddle buddy nearby. If I ask for snuggles, someone is usually there to join me. However, I know that soon, cuddling with Mom won’t be “cool” anymore. He’s already started to resist my choices in clothing, and I’ve cherished dressing my boys in cute outfits. I feel the need to soak up these moments while I still can, as soon there won’t be anyone left to spoil.
I love each of my sons, just not in the same way. They all understand there are no favorites; I adore taking my eldest to fencing and love reading with my 9-year-old while listening to his interests. All of them get cuddles when they want them. In fact, I usually offer more hugs than they accept. Seven-year-old Sunny just happens to be the one who wants to cuddle the most.
I don’t play with him more than his brothers; I don’t discipline him less. But when I do discipline him, he apologizes immediately. His eldest brother often storms off, while the middle one glares at me. Sunny is simply easier to handle, which makes spoiling him even more tempting.
Before long, my little ones will be towering teenagers, guzzling milk and stomping around the house. I want to savor the fleeting moments of their childhood while they last. In the end, I spoil Sunny simply because he’s the youngest. If the others would tolerate it, I’d spoil them all.
He’s my favorite cuddle buddy, though I’m sure some might interpret this as him being my favorite child. That’s not the case—he’s just the squishiest and, for now, the sweetest. Listening to him sing in the car, I often find myself tearing up. This phase of his life won’t last forever. As the band Counting Crows sings in “Long December,” “I can’t remember all the times I tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass.”
He’s the last one I have to cherish.
To learn more about parenting and home insemination, check out this resource and don’t miss our other blog post for valuable insights. For anyone considering home insemination, Make a Mom offers a comprehensive kit that can help.
Here are some related topics you might find interesting: home insemination, self insemination, pregnancy tips, infertility resources, and child development.
Summary:
In this heartfelt reflection on parenting, Sophia Turner shares her experiences with her three children, particularly focusing on her youngest son, Sunny. Despite her struggles during his pregnancy, she finds joy in spoiling him as the last child. Sophia acknowledges the unique bond they share and the bittersweet nature of watching her children grow up.
Leave a Reply