Learning the Ropes

Baby was out of her routine today, such as it is. Her great-grandparents looked after her, with love and aplomb, for a few hours – during which time she pretty much let them have it. It’s not that she hadn’t been around them, but it was the first time they had her in their care. So, she let them know how sensitive she is, and that she’s teething. All of which is a long way of saying that she was whimpering in Non’s arms when I got back. I assured Non that my own first days with baby were far from easy; she knows enough about babies to understand that the hysteria and sorrow were impersonal.

Of course, when I got baby home and soothed her, attended to her sore gums, fed her, and got her down for back-to-back naps, I felt like Joe DiMaggio midway through his 59-game hitting streak. And, realistically, I understood that I am making headway with baby. That we are sounding each other out successfully, and that the work I do here on a daily basis is meaningful.