To Ben, my son

I can hardly believe that I am writing these words. I was 100% sure that you were going to be a girl. Oh boy, was I wrong. I was also wrong about the sex of your sister Maddie. I was so sure she was going to be a boy.

I knew that I had to have you sooner or later because you see, I have had your name picked out since I was a little girl.

Your Grandfather arva shalom, his name was Ben. And even though he died when I was just a little older than Maddie, I always felt that I knew him. I longed to know the sound of his voice, his smell, his humor. But even though his coworkers probably knew him better than I did, he has always been with me.

That is the bond of the parent and child. And I think it's similar to the ancient covenant and family of the Jewish people. Your forefathers and fathers before them have been going through this ritual of a bris throughout time. We don't know them but these people are always with us. Today you join them. You become a part of the ancient and beautiful covenant...the Jewish family.

Yes, I will have to turn away as the moil does his thing. And I will join all of the Jewish mothers who have endured these same feelings. Future mothers will go through the same with their sons....as all of the Jewish families do. We are all together this way. Through our traditions, we may not know each other but we are all together. Today, you become a part of the Jewish family.

You are Ben, my son. I have loved you my whole life. Even though you weren't here yet, you have always been with me...just as my father will always be with me.

I love you and Maddie just as much but in different ways.

It reminds me of this saying my mother used to say. When one of us were having a bout of jealousy for her affections of another sibling... She would show me all of her fingers on her hand and she would say...I love and need each of these fingers equally. If one gets hurt...it hurts my entire hand. My mother made beautiful music with that hand, she plays the piano and I know that she needs each finger to do so. I feel this way about you and Maddie. Each one of you is a Brilliant miracle. You are both blessings in my heart and you are each like the beautiful fingers of a mother's hypothetical hand. With each of you, I will be able to make beautiful music...

This is also why I love the name Ben. Your Hebrew name...Binyamin...means "son of my right hand" having the connotation of strength.

So I will dream big with you...son...I will dream of your contributions to the world. I will be here with you always. And I am very happy that you are about to be welcomed into the Jewish life.

And while we're dreaming big, lets hope the Cubs win the World Series in your lifetime.