Michael knew his wife was right. It wasn’t some terrible defect that would prevent his son from living a full life. He just needed a moment to get used to it.
“I’m sorry, you’re right,” he said, reassuring her. “I was just surprised, that’s all. It truly doesn’t matter. The important thing is that he’s healthy, and so are you.” He kissed his wife. “I’m going to head home and get everything ready for when you two come back. Do you need anything? Just let me know, and I’ll bring it.”
“No, I don’t need a thing, thank you. I have everything I’ve ever wanted right here.”
Three days later, Michael came to pick up Sarah and their son from the hospital. There were no other visitors. They had decided to invite relatives over to the house once mom and baby had settled into their new routine. And life did settle into a new rhythm. The baby demanded a lot of attention and energy. At thirty-seven, being a first-time mother was exhausting for Sarah. Michael helped as much as he could, often getting up with their son at night so his wife could get some sleep.
After a week of adjusting, Sarah invited her best friend, Susan, over. She was planning on asking her to be godmother to their son, Kevin. Susan arrived with a pile of gifts for the newborn. She was genuinely thrilled for her friend, who had waited so long for this happy moment. But when she saw the baby, her expression changed.
“Oh, Sarah, what’s that on his forehead?”
“It’s a birthmark,” Sarah answered calmly.
“Can’t you… get it removed?”
“Why would I?” Sarah asked, genuinely confused. “It doesn’t bother me, and it doesn’t bother Mike.”
“Well, I don’t know, it’s just… it’ll get bigger as he grows. It’s going to look…” Susan searched for the right word. “Unattractive. And you know how kids can be in school, they’ll tease him.”
“No, I don’t know. It all depends on how he feels about it himself. If he sees it as part of what makes him special, then no amount of teasing will ever bother him.”
“I don’t know, Sarah. If it were my kid, I’d have it removed.”
“Susan, I appreciate the thought, but I’m not removing anything. It’s not a wart; it’s a birthmark. And you don’t just get rid of those.”
“It’s your call,” her friend said, a little defensively. “I was just trying to help.”
“Help who?” Sarah pressed.
“Kevin, of course…”
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