The First Born

The experience of having a child is possibly the most traumatic, amazing, delightful and life-changing event of any woman's life.

If you have more than one child, you are a little bit better prepared for child #2 or #3 or #4 (or #6 or #8...).

Having that first one, however, is so incredibly new and so incredibly different from anything you've ever experienced, that there's nothing that can prepare you for it.

Nor are you likely to forget any of the major details of that event for the rest of your life. We remember the drama vividly, but mercifully, it seems we forget the pain.

My sister, Ofelia (we call her Ofie), was born in 1941. She was named after my mother's sister, Ofelia.

She was, is, and always will be The First Born. (Sometimes she still acts as if she's an only child, but that's not important right now.)

Here's my mom, Luza (who is 97 now), reminiscing about Ofie's birth seventy (!) years ago. Enjoy.

On this week before Mother's Day, please tell me about your first born. I know you'll never forget.