My brother counts

Our little boy Bob was born sleeping on the 17th of December 2006. And this is the conversation I had with my eldest son last night...

We where sitting around the table having dinner when my five year old son was telling us how there are more boys than girls in the family.

Mummy, Hannah and Cricket the kitten, so that is three girls. Daddy, Corbu, Bob, Humphrey and Monty the cat (apparently Phil the hamster doesn't count)  so that makes five. The boys win.

Bob still counts. Yes he does. It is so sad that Bob died. Yes it is sweetie, we all love him and miss him very much. How old is Bob? He never ages sweetie, because he died before he was born. O' so he is zero years old. Humphrey is zero. I bet Bob would have made a good little brother. (Trying hard not cry.) Yes, I am sure he would have and you are a very good older brother to all your siblings. I love all my family, even when I get my own family. Thank you sweetie, we will all love you forever. I won't forget Bob because he still part of our family. Yes he is and always will be. Yes, I miss him......A (thoughtful pause) There are more boys, so we defiantly win.

The raw innocent honesty of a child.

It made me cry but it made me smile too. As time has passed friends and family don't speak of him and always refer to us as having 3 kids. There are so many times I want to shout to people that Bob was here, don't forget him, he does count. It makes my heart ache with sadness but Corbu said it all, Bob does count, he is still part of our family, if a five year old can see that...... there is still hope.