Wombat Willy watched his new little sister snuggle into their mother’s arms. He had a strange feeling in his stomach that he couldn’t explain.
“Mom, do you love Vinnie?” Willy asked.
“Of course. I love her from the top of her soft little head all the way down to her tiny toes,” his mother replied. “Her smile makes me feel all warm inside.”
Willy didn’t feel warm inside. He just had that strange feeling in his stomach.
“Mom, do you still love me?” he asked.
“Oh, Willy! Of course I do. You are my very special, big boy,” said his mother.
“But Mom,” Willy said. “How do you know if someone loves you?”
His mother gently tucked Vinnie into her little bed. “Come here, Willy,” she said, opening her arms wide. Willy nestled into his mother’s embrace. He still had that strange feeling in his stomach, but he also felt safe and secure with his mother.
His mother gave Willy a hug. “This is one way to show someone you love them very much,” she whispered into his ear.
Willy snuggled even closer to his mother. She kissed his cheek. “And this is another way to show someone you love them,” she added softly.
Willy smiled. “How does love feel?” he asked. “Does it give you a weird feeling in your stomach?”
“Love can feel many different ways,” his mother explained. “It can make you feel special. It can make you happy. It can make you smile. It can make you jump in the air with joy! Or curl up and cuddle. Sometimes, love makes your stomach feel as if a bunch of butterflies are fluttering inside it.”
Willy snuggled even closer to his mother. “But Mom, does love make your stomach feel like a bunch of kangaroos are hopping inside it?”
“Oh, my dear Willy!” his mother sighed. “Is that how your stomach feels right now?”
Willy looked over at his little sister. She lay there gurgling and softly grunting.
“Yes. That’s how my stomach feels, and it doesn’t make me feel happy or special,” he said.
His mother gently picked up Willy and swung him onto her back. Then she walked over to Vinnie’s little bed.
“Willy, your stomach is telling you something else. I think you might be feeling a little jealous of your new sister,” she explained gently.
“What do you mean?” Willy asked.
“Are you afraid that I don’t love you as much as I love Vinnie? Or that I won’t have as much time for you anymore?” his mother asked.
Willy nodded.
“It’s completely normal to feel that way,” his mother said. “It will take a little time to get used to your new little sister.”
Willy pressed himself closer to his mother’s back.
“But Willy, just because I love Vinnie doesn’t mean I don’t love you,” his mother smiled. “There’s plenty of room in my heart for both of you!”
Willy climbed down from his mother’s back. The kangaroos in his stomach weren’t jumping as much anymore.
“Can I hold Vinnie?” he asked.
“Of course you can,” his mother said.
Vinnie smiled at Willy. He started to feel all warm inside.
“Mom,” Willy exclaimed. “Love is really BIG, isn’t it?”
“Yes, my dear!” his mother laughed. “Love is everywhere, and there’s room for everyone.”
“I love you, Willy Wombat,” his mother said, giving him a big hug.
“I love you too, Mom,” Willy said.
“And you, Vinnie,” he whispered softly to his new little sister.
