I want to give a round of applause here to my husband who I didn't even mention in the last post! He was the ultimate labor helper, being supportive and saying all kinds of good stuff when I needed to be talked through the difficult contractions. And at the end, I was squashing his hand really hard and wouldn't stop even when he mentioned it. I told him I didn't feel sorry for him, and I meant it. He took this in stride, and stayed right there. With no sleep to mention, he's been taking care of our children almost all the time and doing as much housework as he can ever since then. He's doing the job I usually do but without the evening break of a fresh face that he usually gives me. And without the sleep that people generally get when they are doing hard work. This is probably the hardest working vacation he'll ever take. Love love love to you Billy dear.
Posted by Bahiyyih at February 24, 2005 07:54 PMGo Billy!! And not only that, he played a late night game of racquetball and held his own. He must have a cape in there somewhere :)
Posted by: Husayn at February 24, 2005 08:12 PMWay to go, Billy! And ah, yes, the hand squashing. Husayn informs me (though I hardly remember) that he too has been down that road. I've always been a little curious what the experience is like from the husband's persective.
Posted by: Suzanne at February 25, 2005 07:36 PMIt took me a few days to realize that this was, in fact, as the University claimed, Parental Leave and not a vacation ...
Posted by: Billy at February 26, 2005 10:33 AMI am a most happy mother-in-law of the above-mentioned William (nee James) Beecher Baker. And I just realized in meditation that, if a person doesn't get used to accustoming themselves to hardship in childhood, they'll get another shot at it in parenthood. So you have strong endorsements from a wife and her mother, Mr. Bill. With much love,
Nana
Posted by: Nana at March 6, 2005 04:47 PM