Honestly, it's been SO many years since I've been in charge of a baby, there were things I had forgotten. Cora had three naps today, and in fact was sleeping when her grandma picked her up at 4 P.M.
After "our baby" left at 4 P.M., Cliff and I decided to watch last night's episode of "The Good Wife"on DVR. A couple of times during the show, Cliff made some rather loud, enthusiastic comments. Each time, I caught myself starting to tell him, "Shhh, Cora is asleep. You'll wake her up!"
I stopped myself before the words left my lips, though. She was gone, for heaven's sake!
Last week I caught myself more than once listening for the baby to cry after she had already gone home.
It seems to me a woman gets in a certain mode when she's responsible for a baby. When my kids were babies, my mom would sometimes take them home with her for a few hours. All the time they were gone, something didn't feel right. It was as though part of me was gone. Oh, I enjoyed the break, don't get me wrong, but I was always thinking it was too quiet, that I should be checking on the kids.
Is this a universal mother thing? Surely it must be. Cliff was a great father to our babies, but with him it was "out of sight, out of mind". His brother, Phil, a wonderful and loving father, once came to see us with his toddler son, Chad, and left without him. You should have seen the sheepish look on his face when he returned to pick his kid up.
You wouldn't see any mom I ever knew pull that stunt.
Meanwhile, you can't imagine how much I am enjoying feeling that baby squirming on my shoulder, and hearing those little animal-like grunts and noises that small babies make. She gets her head, cheeks, and forehead kissed many times daily. Especially when she smiles that million-dollar smile. I feel very privileged that I am allowed to have her three or four days a week. And I even get paid for it.
I got to hold a 6 week old a few days ago and it was such a nice feeling. Yes, it is a universal mother thing. I remember the first time Andrew spent the night with my parents. I woke up suddenly in the middle of the night because I heard him crying. I went to his room, and he wasn't there, and I freaked! Woke Thomas up, and Thomas said, "Calm down. He's spending the night with Mamaw and Papaw. Remember?" But that cry was SO real to me. I had trouble getting back to sleep that night.
ReplyDeleteI just found out this weekend that grand babe #20 is on the way. He or she won't be here till June next year, meanwhile #19 is due to arrive this year in November. I told my kids they were providing job security for me. I always said that when I retired I wanted a job rocking babies and here I seem to have a good supply. I do know what you are saying about babies.
ReplyDeleteBabies are therapeutic, although also frustrating. :) Not having to put in the sleepless nights helps with that though. It sounds like you're having a wonderful time with her!
ReplyDeleteBabies are such sweethearts it's hard to be without them.
ReplyDelete