On Resisting the Jealousy of Others

New born children take a lot of care. There is a lot to do to ensure the child survives and thrives.

Notwithstanding the father wishes to do lots - he is to some extent detached because

1. He can't be a nursing mother;
2. He didn't carry the growing feotus in his stomach for 9 months prior to birth through a part of his body usually used for other purposes. 

Now, the time after is long. Babies grow to youngsters, children talk, and walk, argue and urinate behind trees on pathways where other people are. 

What I'm getting at, is that the journey is long, and the responsibility large, and there is no straight path to doing the best.

Forget about the father for a minute.

The mother may find that people she spent lots of time with before have to be sidelined a bit for an indefinite time. Also, communication might be shortened, and might be direct and directive. There may be perceived needs which dictate that the mother tell others what is going to happen, in lieu of the usual long-winded consultative process often taken up by the Federal Government before it imposes a new tax.

Here is today's lesson.

The mother is entitled to this pursuit of the personal perspective in priority to engagement, consultation and consideration of others.

If a mother says "we are due to go to a wedding but I must go home at 8pm, and because we are all going together, everyone else must come home then too" - well, that is right and appropriate.

Context: as long as the mother realises that this can't go on for ever. The baby becomes aware of privilege of this nature and will play on the mother's affection, and drive everyone insane. But that comes later.

Over and out. PK -