College Admission

"Alexa, guess what? Mom's going to have a baby!" my seven year old sister exclaimed out of nowhere.

"You're kidding, right?" I said to her nonchalantly.

Nope.

My dad and stepmother confirmed this several seconds later. I was absolutely speechless. Did I want to extend a hearty 'congratulations' and be ecstatic right along with them? Of course! Did I? No! What teenage girl wants to play big sister to an infant all over again (as if the first time wasn't exasperating enough)? Not I! A slew of emotions engulfed me all at once- those of fear, excitement, anxiety, and anticipation- just to name a few. I had so many unanswered questions as well: will people think I'm this kid's mom? Will he look like my father and me or my stepmom and stepsister? Will he be born in the same month as me (May) and, therefore, take away my birthday glory? Okay, so maybe I was being just a bit selfish.

For the next eight months, my household centered around this tiny new addition to our family. On my part, I decided that, since I had taken up crocheting earlier in the year, I would make my baby brother or sister a (neutral-colored) blanket. It took me the full eight months or so to finish it, too!

Joshua Louis Cohen was born on June 15th (phew!) 2002. I vividly remember getting that call from my dad , telling me that my baby brother just 'popped out' a few minutes prior to our phone conversation. I'll never forget that emotional exchange for as long as I live. I was bawling like a little baby (silently of course because I wouldn't have wanted my dad to know that I had finally let my wall down). That moment is so clear in my memory- I was so wrapped up in my own tears that I didn't even hear Joshua crying in the background until the tail-end of our conversation.