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e scene. At 9.44 pounds she seemed half grown at birth as she glanced around the delivery room taking it all in - Mama, Daddy, "Ma", and the mid-wife. She excitedly cried out her joy and commenced to fill our hearts with love. Fortunately, having planned and saved, my daughter has been able to stay home for the last ninety days enjoying the thrill and fun of a first child. Ellie, named after my mother, is a delight. She eats and sleeps as all babies love to do, and then when she is awake she laughs and coos with joy. Another "fortunately" includes that although Mama must return to her job as a physical therapist this morning, she is able to work at ¾ time or three days a week, so she still has four days with Ellie. A third "fortunately" is the fact that Ma and Pa are retired and can travel the 250 miles from their home to Ellie's where they transform into Ellie's babysitters. "No daycare for my granddaughter!" Ma firmly pronounced.
On this first day back, Ellie woke up early. This gave my daughter that "Mama time" she desperately needed to feed and bond and prepare for separation on this initial return-to-work day. Ellie looked with love at her Mama, ate and then snoozed again so Mama could shed tears as she showered, dressed, and downed her breakfast. I remember the sadness and tough heartache that accompanied leaving my children at a babysitter or daycare and I share her pain. While she knows all will be well since grandparents have assumed the daycare responsibility and Ellie gets to stay at home instead of being drug out into the cold morning air, it is still hard to leave, especially now when she is so young. A fourth "fortunately" is that my daughter heads to a terrific job where she loves the people she works with and her patients. This will help the day fly by until the moment she can come home and cuddle her darling girl. And of course a flood of photos on her phone will allay her worries and fill her with happiness.
And so with instructions in hand on feeding, adjusting the covers on the bed (only on her legs, please), letting her sleep only on her back (Mama and her brothers were allowed to only sleep on their stomachs in the good ol' days), and other tips on baths and playtime and changing diapers and miscellaneous baby tasks, Mama piles into her car, backs out of the driveway, waves, and vanishes down the street for her commute to work. Ma giggles at the list, knowing that she has successfully raised three babies of her own, but also empathizes knowing how difficult it is to part with a beloved baby and that there are routines and requirements in this babysitting position. All will be well. Ellie will be loved. Mama will survive through tear-stained eyes, and life will go on. And with a final fortunately, Ma and Pa's lives will be enriched beyond
e scene. At 9.44 pounds she seemed half grown at birth as she glanced around the delivery room taking it all in - Mama, Daddy, "Ma", and the mid-wife. She excitedly cried out her joy and commenced to fill our hearts with love. Fortunately, having planned and saved, my daughter has been able to stay home for the last ninety days enjoying the thrill and fun of a first child. Ellie, named after my mother, is a delight. She eats and sleeps as all babies love to do, and then when she is awake she laughs and coos with joy. Another "fortunately" includes that although Mama must return to her job as a physical therapist this morning, she is able to work at ¾ time or three days a week, so she still has four days with Ellie. A third "fortunately" is the fact that Ma and Pa are retired and can travel the 250 miles from their home to Ellie's where they transform into Ellie's babysitters. "No daycare for my granddaughter!" Ma firmly pronounced.
On this first day back, Ellie woke up early. This gave my daughter that "Mama time" she desperately needed to feed and bond and prepare for separation on this initial return-to-work day. Ellie looked with love at her Mama, ate and then snoozed again so Mama could shed tears as she showered, dressed, and downed her breakfast. I remember the sadness and tough heartache that accompanied leaving my children at a babysitter or daycare and I share her pain. While she knows all will be well since grandparents have assumed the daycare responsibility and Ellie gets to stay at home instead of being drug out into the cold morning air, it is still hard to leave, especially now when she is so young. A fourth "fortunately" is that my daughter heads to a terrific job where she loves the people she works with and her patients. This will help the day fly by until the moment she can come home and cuddle her darling girl. And of course a flood of photos on her phone will allay her worries and fill her with happiness.
And so with instructions in hand on feeding, adjusting the covers on the bed (only on her legs, please), letting her sleep only on her back (Mama and her brothers were allowed to only sleep on their stomachs in the good ol' days), and other tips on baths and playtime and changing diapers and miscellaneous baby tasks, Mama piles into her car, backs out of the driveway, waves, and vanishes down the street for her commute to work. Ma giggles at the list, knowing that she has successfully raised three babies of her own, but also empathizes knowing how difficult it is to part with a beloved baby and that there are routines and requirements in this babysitting position. All will be well. Ellie will be loved. Mama will survive through tear-stained eyes, and life will go on. And with a final fortunately, Ma and Pa's lives will be enriched beyond
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