Dr Mom

But really, I was doctoring myself...managed to get the first cold of the season; not surprising considering my profession and the fact that I'm still not getting quality sleep. At any rate, my husband talked me into staying home Wednesday, and it definitely helped. It got me thinking, however, about moms (or dads) who are the sole caregivers for their children, whether they're single parents or not. I had the luxury of feeding Bean and then handing her off to my husband or some friends who were staying with us, and I was able to get some sleep and thus get better. What happens when one can't do that? I guess it's true that Moms (or Dads) just can't get sick, or if you do, you take a bunch of Tylenol and keep going. I will say that I got a small taste of it at night because I still had to wake up and feed Bean, but my prince of a husband usually went and got her for me so I just had to prop myself and fall back asleep as she ate. Thanks, babe.

At any rate, my heart goes out to those parents who don't get this kind of support, and I wish there was some great answer...maybe it goes back to my hope for universal quality childcare, or maybe we all just need to take a look at our community and neighbors and how we interact. We live in a fabulous neighborhood with people who really and truly would help us if and when we needed it, and I hope that we reciprocate---and I know this isn't a common occurrence. Talking with my students about the one-year anniversary of September 11th kind of brought this home as well...in the days after the tragedy, it really seemed as though American communities pulled together in a way that they maybe hadn't for a generation or two. I only hope that we can keep some measure of that in the next year and beyond.

The other good thing about staying home is that I got a chance to play with Bean while she was awake and happy, and it was truly exciting---I was dangling a silver Man in Moon rattle in front of her and she was snagging it with about 75% accuracy---cool stuff. She was also grabbing it with the proper grasp, opposable thumb and everything. When she shook her hand and it rattled, the look on her face was priceless---much smiling and giggling.

Right now she's napping, after fighting Daddy for a bit...I do miss her during the days at work :(...but I won't go downstairs and make a lot of noise in hopes of waking her up :)