When Dad Shuts Down, Mama Bear Speaks UpNOT MY STORY
Not long after the birth of our first child back in the early 2000s, my husband got my mother to babysit and dragged me out of the house for a few hours for a much-needed outing. It was my first time away from my new boy, and I was riding the emotional roller coaster of post-partum separation.
We hit the local superstore as one does for excitement in the rural south. Hubby went to check on something somewhere while I looked over the books and magazines.
From a few aisles away, a very young child started loudly calling, “Daddy!…. Daddy!…. Daddy.” The calls grew more forceful and frequent as the summons went unanswered. The kiddo wasn’t in distress, so I figured Daddy was just ignoring them.
“Daddy!…. Daddy!…. Daddy.”
After a minute or two, it started to give me the “New Mommy Twitch”, and I had to restrain myself from going over to see what the issue was.
“Daddy!…. Daddy!…. Daaaaaddy.”
Finally, I cracked and loudly said, “DADDY! Answer that child!”
Almost simultaneously, from two other areas, voices forcefully called, “Answer your child!”‘ and, “See to your kid!”
There was immediate silence. Since there was no kid fussing or angry dad hissing to be heard, I’m guessing Daddy woke up and finally paid attention.
When Dad Shuts Down, Mama Bear Speaks Up NOT MY STORY
Not long after the birth of our first child back in the early 2000s, my husband got my mother to babysit and dragged me out of the house for a few hours for a much-needed outing. It was my first time away from my new boy, and I was riding the emotional roller coaster of post-partum separation.
We hit the local superstore as one does for excitement in the rural south. Hubby went to check on something somewhere while I looked over the books and magazines.
From a few aisles away, a very young child started loudly calling, “Daddy!…. Daddy!…. Daddy.” The calls grew more forceful and frequent as the summons went unanswered. The kiddo wasn’t in distress, so I figured Daddy was just ignoring them.
“Daddy!…. Daddy!…. Daddy.”
After a minute or two, it started to give me the “New Mommy Twitch”, and I had to restrain myself from going over to see what the issue was.
“Daddy!…. Daddy!…. Daaaaaddy.”
Finally, I cracked and loudly said, “DADDY! Answer that child!”
Almost simultaneously, from two other areas, voices forcefully called, “Answer your child!”‘ and, “See to your kid!”
There was immediate silence. Since there was no kid fussing or angry dad hissing to be heard, I’m guessing Daddy woke up and finally paid attention.
I guess it’s true: it does take a village.