I saw a woman pushing a stroller on Mother’s day. She was a gal on a mission and the heir apparent was coming along as an afterthought - if he hadn’t bounced out some time ago. This appeared to be a Mom who’s intent was clear – sleep or get the hell out. Apparently, the resonant rhythm required for this little one to nap was enabled by the quick staccato of wheel slapping the sidewalk ridges.
Every parent either learns the child specific rhythm necessary for sleep relatively quickly or makes the evening news. Some learn that the back seat of a Volvo slowly and endlessly circling the neighborhood enables that long delayed nap while others learn a neighborhood walk is required. Some sway endlessly with a tyke welded to a hip. No child comes with a manual identifying the optimum activity and it is only by desperate experimentation that the key activity is found.
Sorry Moms-in-law, you may provide advice and options but it is only by personal parental experimentation that an acceptable pattern is established. But, an apology is due Mom’s-in-law everywhere for the stone cold glares emitting from blood shot eyes that are an unfair return for the advice granted so freely and lovingly. Of course, this is no where near the enmity that flows when a Mom-in-law takes a troubled tot to hip and immediately sooths the previously inconsolable while calmly keeping up her end of a conversation and displaying the parental smile common to those who have achieved a victory over a foundling. The stares and enmity mean nothing except that those issuing them need sleep to recover their cognitive processes.
Once found, the sleep activity is sworn to and systematically repeated whenever needed no matter what the inconvenience. Please note that the “need” is more often based on a parental sleep requirement. More time can be spent bundling, jostling and exciting a petulant child for a biting winter walk by a glazed and exhausted parent than in the resulting nap in a biting winter wind. But, as they say, silence is golden.
I have a former co-worker who was rudely awoken roadside and accused of drunk driving by a young cop. When she pointed out the sleeping child to the oblivious neophyte officer, the cop launched into a lecture on child endangerment so vehement that the child stirred from a rare slumber. My co-worker admitted that this caused her to lose all composure. Having no way to take both wailing child and irate citizen to the police station the cop called for backup and advice. An older, more experienced officer appeared, quickly recognized the situation for what it was and let my sleep deprived co-worker go with an apology and best wishes.
At least that is what my co-worker claimed. This could have been a mental fabrication that developed in the ether of sleep deprivation. Either way, she had my sympathy.
As I saw the pram bounce along I wished the child and mother well. I assumed that this was her private time of celebration having turned aside the brutish offer of a Mother’s gift/offer to make a sibling from her irresponsible and inconsiderate husband. At least this is what one would believe from her distant, joyful but empty stare as she power walked her bouncing tot in her three wheeled, high performance baby carriage. I wished the child luck as well.
Every parent either learns the child specific rhythm necessary for sleep relatively quickly or makes the evening news. Some learn that the back seat of a Volvo slowly and endlessly circling the neighborhood enables that long delayed nap while others learn a neighborhood walk is required. Some sway endlessly with a tyke welded to a hip. No child comes with a manual identifying the optimum activity and it is only by desperate experimentation that the key activity is found.
Sorry Moms-in-law, you may provide advice and options but it is only by personal parental experimentation that an acceptable pattern is established. But, an apology is due Mom’s-in-law everywhere for the stone cold glares emitting from blood shot eyes that are an unfair return for the advice granted so freely and lovingly. Of course, this is no where near the enmity that flows when a Mom-in-law takes a troubled tot to hip and immediately sooths the previously inconsolable while calmly keeping up her end of a conversation and displaying the parental smile common to those who have achieved a victory over a foundling. The stares and enmity mean nothing except that those issuing them need sleep to recover their cognitive processes.
Once found, the sleep activity is sworn to and systematically repeated whenever needed no matter what the inconvenience. Please note that the “need” is more often based on a parental sleep requirement. More time can be spent bundling, jostling and exciting a petulant child for a biting winter walk by a glazed and exhausted parent than in the resulting nap in a biting winter wind. But, as they say, silence is golden.
I have a former co-worker who was rudely awoken roadside and accused of drunk driving by a young cop. When she pointed out the sleeping child to the oblivious neophyte officer, the cop launched into a lecture on child endangerment so vehement that the child stirred from a rare slumber. My co-worker admitted that this caused her to lose all composure. Having no way to take both wailing child and irate citizen to the police station the cop called for backup and advice. An older, more experienced officer appeared, quickly recognized the situation for what it was and let my sleep deprived co-worker go with an apology and best wishes.
At least that is what my co-worker claimed. This could have been a mental fabrication that developed in the ether of sleep deprivation. Either way, she had my sympathy.
As I saw the pram bounce along I wished the child and mother well. I assumed that this was her private time of celebration having turned aside the brutish offer of a Mother’s gift/offer to make a sibling from her irresponsible and inconsiderate husband. At least this is what one would believe from her distant, joyful but empty stare as she power walked her bouncing tot in her three wheeled, high performance baby carriage. I wished the child luck as well.
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