“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination, full of hope.” —Maya Angelou
I’m thrilled to announce that my wife and I have welcomed a new addition to our family! Our baby girl was born on July 4. She and her mother are in the finest of health, and our entire family is incredibly excited to welcome her into the world. Our two-year-old daughter is over the moon, as well—she’s eager to start her big sister duties, and we anticipate that she will be a wonderfully positive influence on her new sibling.
Last year, when my wife and I decided to expand our family, we never could have anticipated how dramatically the world would change over the course of nine months. As with so many families, the global COVID-19 pandemic has irreparably changed our daily lives. We’ve seen the political divide in our home country of the United States continue to widen, and animosity amongst citizens appears to be at an all-time high as the upcoming election cycle enters its final few months. The murder of George Floyd brought renewed attention to the systematic racism and pervasive injustice that has long been such a tragically significant thread in the fabric of our society. And looming over everything, the very real and unrelenting threat of climate change continues to pose a threat to all of humanity.
In truth, we’ve continually wrestled with the challenges, ethics, and doubts about bringing another child into this frequently tumultuous existence. Even during the pregnancy, we were often asked—more frequently than during our first pregnancy—how we felt about having another child in such strange and uncertain times.
Well, in stark contrast to the negativity and existential darkness that have surrounded so much of the world over these past nine months, we’ve also seen astounding levels of positivity, along with widespread, earnest desire for real change. Every age faces its own unique challenges, even if sometimes they’re very reminiscent of what has come before. After all, a major theme in the story of humanity has always been determination in the face of adversity, and we’re witnessing that holding true.
Ours is a multicultural family. My wife and I are both humbled and overjoyed that our children will have access to the various languages, traditions, and stories gifted to them by several generations of family members. Showing our children the richness that a diverse society offers will forever be one of our top priorities as parents. We will help them understand—in addition to many other important issues—that black lives matter, that we must all strive to create a better world for every future generation, and that love is the most powerful force in the universe, in whatever form it takes.
So as people continue to ask us how we feel about bringing a new child into existence, we will tell them that the world will always need more positive, compassionate, and thoughtful individuals. We’re committed to raising our children to be such exemplars.
To my newborn daughter, welcome. And to both my children, let’s make this world the best we possibly can.
Want to stay in touch? Follow me on Twitter—@mdouglaswhite.
