A Baby Girl for Christmas
By Amy Sadler ©2025
Prologue
Simon Tully was unlike most eighteen-year-olds. While others might have felt overshadowed by the festive season, Simon’s birthday coincided with Christmas Day, making it a doubly special occasion each year. Every 25th of December, his parents, Darren and Susan, would go out of their way to ensure Simon felt celebrated for both his birthday and Christmas. The living room would sparkle under fairy lights, a heap of presents stacked neatly—half wrapped in cheerful Christmas paper, the other half adorned with birthday motifs.
The Anticipation of Christmas
This year, 2025, Simon approached Christmas with the same joyful anticipation he always had. He wondered aloud to his parents what surprises they had in store for his eighteenth, a milestone birthday that felt more magical for its timing. Darren and Susan exchanged mysterious glances, their smiles just a little wider than usual.
A Christmas Morning Unlike Any Other
On Christmas morning, Simon bounded down the stairs, still in his pyjamas, and dove into the pile of presents. The first present he opened, however, took him by complete surprise—it was a little girl’s red velvet dress, but in his size with short puffy sleeves and a white Peter Pan collar and two red bows on the front of the dress. Simon looked up, perplexed.
“Erm... thanks, Mum. That’s... different,” he said, uncertainly, his fingers tracing the soft fabric.
The next gift was a large Terry Towelling Nappy, which caught Simon by surprise and shock, the next present was a pair of red satin knickers with rows and rows of white ruffled lace frills across the back and they were plastic lined the next present was a pair of frilly white ankle socks, dainty and delicate, followed by a box containing shiny black Mary Jane shoes. Simon sat back, confusion etched across his face. “Mum, Dad, what’s all this about?”
The Reveal
Darren cleared his throat, his eyes gentle. “Well, son, your mother and I have always dreamed of having a baby girl for Christmas, ever since we had you. Unfortunately, due to some complications, your mother can’t have any more children.”
Susan reached out, taking Simon’s hand. “We know it’s a lot to take in, but for your eighteenth birthday, we thought—perhaps—you might become our baby girl, just for Christmas. It’s something we’ve longed for; a wish we could never quite let go.”
Shock and Acceptance
Simon was stunned, the words tumbling around in his mind. The idea felt surreal, even a little overwhelming. It took gentle encouragement and heartfelt conversation for Simon to understand the depth of his parents’ longing and the love behind their unusual request.
Gradually, he realised this was about more than just a dress or a pair of shoes—it was about making cherished family memories, about being there for one another, no matter how whimsical the request. With a mixture of nerves and excitement, Simon agreed to become their ‘baby girl’ for Christmas Day.
A New Family Tradition
That Christmas, laughter filled the Tully household as Simon donned the red velvet dress, twirled around the living room, and played along with his parents’ long-held wish. There were games, old family stories, and photographs taken to mark the occasion. It became a Christmas none of them would ever forget—a testament to love, acceptance, and the magic of family traditions, however unexpected they might be.
Epilogue
From that year onwards, Simon’s eighteenth birthday was remembered not only for the surprise it brought, but for the greater understanding and closeness it fostered between him and his parents. Christmas at the Tully house continued to be a time of warmth, laughter, and a reminder that family is all about embracing each other’s dreams—even the most unconventional ones.
The End
