You just need to burp November 14, 2008
Posted by Karen Joy in Babies, Family, Funny Stuff, Homeschooling, Motherhood, The Kids.3 comments
I have a really short memory as a mother, apparently. My second-youngest daughter is 2.5, and she nursed until she was 21 months old, which was this year. Still, before Fiala was born, I envisioned nursing my baby with ease while reading school stuff to my children… like we’d just be all cozy on the couch and it’d all go so smoothly.
Um, no. It hasn’t quite worked out that way, probably mostly due to the fact that I can not do two things at once. Anything. I can’t even talk on the phone and load the dishwasher at the same time, which, in some countries, is a required skill before the marriage license is issued.
Still, I try.
In one of my (probably ill-fated) attempts this past week, I was reading (sort of) to my two middle boys as I nursed Fiala. About halfway through, as I had her up on my shoulder, patting her back, my 9yo, Grant, asked, “Is she done?” “No,” I replied, “She just needs to burp, then she’ll want more.” Sure enough, a baby-sized belch was issued, and she started rooting on my neck, looking for milk. “Wow,” Grant marvelled, “How did you know??”
That interaction reminded me of a dinnertime story… Robin, do forgive if I get some details wrong; it was a long time ago.
Anyways, for some reason, my sister was eating dinner with our family. Ethan was young, maybe three or four (he’s now 11). Robin has no children (except a non-custodial stepdaughter, who is only 13 years younger than Robin), and is alternately horrified and impressed by my mothering skills.
Mid-dinner, Ethan started moaning about how his tummy hurt. I was unmoved, insisting that he eat his dinner. (For years, Ethan would come up with some malady — EVERY SINGLE MEALTIME — about how/why he couldn’t eat. He’s past that, thank God, though he is still an abominably slow eater, and a borderline hypochondriac.) This went on for a while. Finally, I looked at him and said, “You just need to burp. Burp, and you’ll feel better, then you’ll be able to finish.”
This was one of the times my sister was horrified. I don’t remember if she started advocating for Ethan right there, or if she just told me later that she was thunderstruck: My lack of sympathy for my son’s health was beyond cold, and how could I possibly know he needed to b–
BURP!!
“Wow! I feel so much better! You were right, Mom!” And he finished his dinner with no further complaint.
Hah.
Moms really do know everything.
About burps, anyways.
“Pink Eye.” Or, “Duh.” November 14, 2008
Posted by Karen Joy in Babies, Medical Stuff, Motherhood, The Dear Hubby, The Kids.4 comments
Last week, my 11yo son Ethan had a very red left eye. He graciously let me pry open his eyelids so I could get a better look. (What is it about motherhood that makes one strangely enjoy literally picking on one’s kids, like a grooming chimp or something?) On the whites (sclera?) of his eye, amongst the bloodshot vessels, was a strange bump. I immediately got very worried, thought it must be Pink Eye/conjunctivitis or something, and told my husband, who immediately told me to calm down, that I always think something is wrong with our kids. Hmph.
Ethan’s eye did clear up in the next day or two… but then, I noticed MY eyes looking very red, inflamed red even, extremely bloodshot, and sore. Goodness! I was right! Ethan did have something contagious!! Of course, I alerted my husband, who, peering into my eyes, said, “Hm. They do look a little bloodshot. But, I don’t think you caught anything from Ethan.” Hmph. The proof was right in front of him!
A couple of hours later that night, as I was yawning and getting ready for bed, it dawned on me: For the last three weeks, I have, at most, gotten about 5 hours of sleep each night. Hm. Think chronic lack of sleep might play into the fact that my eyes are bloodshot?? The whole thing dawned on me with a resounding, “Duh.”
I bet that when Fiala starts sleeping for a longer clip at night that my Pink Eye magically clears up. :blush:
