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Chaya Mushka and the New Baby

Ages 6-9 | Story and 9 activities

Before the baby comes, Chaya Mushka has Mommy all to herself.

They bake cookies on Sunday. They read three stories at bedtime. They walk to the park every afternoon, and Mommy pushes her on the swing until she feels like she can touch the clouds.

Then, one morning, Totty takes Mommy to the hospital. When they come back, Mommy is holding a little bundle in a yellow blanket.

"Chaya Mushka," says Mommy, "meet your baby brother."

Chaya Mushka peeks. The baby has a tiny nose and wrinkly hands and a scrunched-up face. He yawns a tiny yawn.

"Hi," she says.

He is sweet, and everyone says so. Bubby coos. The neighbors bring casseroles. Everyone wants to hold him. "He looks just like you," they tell Chaya Mushka, and she smiles politely.

But a funny feeling has begun to grow inside her.

The next week is a blur. Mommy is always tired. She is always feeding the baby or rocking the baby or changing the baby. When Chaya Mushka asks for a story, Mommy says, "In a minute, sweetie." When she wants to go to the park, Mommy says, "Not today, the baby's sleeping."

One evening, she sits on the couch, kicking her feet. She watches Mommy rock the baby, who is fussing.

"Mommy, can we bake cookies?"

"Not now. I'm sorry."

"You never have time for me anymore."

Mommy looks up. Her eyes are tired, but they are kind. She lays the baby in his crib. Then she sits down beside Chaya Mushka and pulls her close.

"I hear you. I miss our time, too."

"You do?"

"So much. It's a big change. Things are different now, aren't they?"

Chaya Mushka nods. Her chin trembles. "I feel like you love him more."

Mommy's face softens. "Oh, sweetheart. Do you know about a mother's heart? When a new baby comes, it doesn't split in half. It grows bigger. There's a whole new room for him, and your room stays exactly the same size."

Chaya Mushka thinks about that. "A bigger heart?"

"A bigger heart. And the people who love you are even more."

She feels a little lighter. But she still misses the cookies.

"How about we make a plan?" says Mommy. "Every afternoon while the baby naps, you and I will have our time. Just us. And on Sunday, Totty watches the baby and we'll bake."

"Really?"

"Really. And there's something else. I need a helper. A big sister who knows all the best things."

"What do you mean?"

"Babies need to learn things. How to laugh. How to play. How to sing. You're the best teacher I know."

Chaya Mushka stands up straight. "I can teach him."

The next day, she brings over her stuffed bear and shows it to the baby. "This is Mr. Bear. He's my best friend. You can have him too."

The baby stares at the bear. His tiny hand reaches out and grabs its ear.

"He likes him!" she says.

Every afternoon, she sings him the song about the elephant. The baby coos and kicks his feet. On Sunday, she and Mommy bake cookies, and she presses a tiny bit of dough onto the baby's cheek.

Everyone laughs. Even the baby smiles.

That night, Chaya Mushka whispers to him through the crib bars, "I'm your big sister. I'll always be here."